Notts into T20 finals day after fielding blunders cost Leicestershire

Both sides scored 139 for seven from their 20 over allocation but the Outlaws progress ‘on countback’ having scored more runs than their opponents during the initial six over powerplay.

It should have been game over but for two fielding cock-ups at the death, including a last ball misfield.

“I thought I was packing my bags and heading off home because we’ve got away with one there,” said Christian. “But it helps when you’ve got people with the experience of Samit Patel and Imad Wasim coming in down the order at number eight and nine.

“We’ve got the experience down there and it was just enough for us to get over the line – or at least to get to the tie which was enough.

“Credit to all the staff for this, we stuck to our plans with the ball. I thought it was fantastic and would have taken 140 at the start of the day.

“We’ll take tomorrow off now, rest up, have a big breath and chat to the analyst about how we approach Saturday.”

At the start of the match the Foxes were reduced to seven for two and only had 22 runs on the board after six overs.

Harry Swindells and Colin Ackermann revived their spirits with a fourth wicket stand of 66.

Ackermann cleared the ropes on three occasions but then paddled Matt Carter’s first delivery into the hands of Chris Nash at short fine leg to depart for 43, made from only 33 deliveries.

Lewis Hill made 17 from only 12 balls before falling to Dan Christian, shortly after Swindells brought up his 50 from 39 deliveries.

Christian finished with two for 24 and Jake Ball collected two for 30 for the hosts.

Notts lost Alex Hales for only nine at the start of their chase, bowled by a peach of a delivery from Callum Parkinson that pitched on middle and leg and took out the off stump.

Despite that setback the runs flowed from the bat of Joe Clarke and his power hitting ensured that Notts had 42 on the board after six overs – crucial at the end of the day.

Clarke hit three sixes, one a huge blow onto the top tier of the Hound Road Stand, before holing out for 35.

Nash, playing his final innings at Trent Bridge before leaving Notts, made just 17 and the middle order began to fall behind the rate after a slump from 58 for one to 67 for four.

Tom Moores hit 26 but was then bowled by Ackermann, who followed it with the wicket of Christian to collect figures of three for 27. Gavin Griffiths took three for 21 and when he removed Steven Mullaney it appeared as if the Foxes were heading back to their first Finals Day since 2011.

With only seven balls left Notts still required 17, with Samit Patel and Imad Wasim together at the crease. Patel hit the ball straight to Arron Lilley at deep midwicket but inexplicably the fielder took his eye off the ball and it went through his legs for four.

In the final over Patel hit Will Davis for a huge six over extra cover, leaving four needed from three balls.

One came from the penultimate delivery but then more heartbreak for the Foxes as Dieter Klein mis-fielded the final ball of the match, allowing a second, decisive run to be taken to tie the scores.

Notts celebrated, already aware that the countback counted in their favour, and advance through to a meeting with North Group rivals Lancashire Lightning at Edgbaston on Saturday.