Samit Patel stars in Notts victory

Samit Patel was released from England duty to carry Nottinghamshire to another Friends Life Twenty20 victory in a high-scoring match against Derbyshire under the County Ground floodlights.

Patel made the most of a dropped catch when he was on 11 to hammer an unbeaten 70 from 43 balls as the Outlaws went past the Falcons' imposing 170 for 5 with three balls to spare.

Martin Guptill had smashed 79 from 55 balls and added 74 off 38 balls with Ross Whiteley who made 40 not out off only 19 balls but Alex Hales (76) and Patel won the match for the North Group leaders.

Guptill came into the game on a hot streak and, after surviving a hard chance to mid off in the opening over, drove the ball powerfully as the Falcons recovered from a shaky start.

Wes Durston was yorked by Luke Fletcher and Chesney Hughes struggled to time the ball before he was bowled swinging wildly at Darren Pattinson.

When Wayne Madsen fell to a reverse pull, Derbyshire had a lot to do but Guptill and Garry Park gave the innings momentum before Whiteley and the New Zealander tore into the bowling.

They plundered 53 from three overs as the Outlaws paid a high price for Andre Adams spilling a straight-forward chance at long off when Whiteley was on 18 in the 17th over.

Whiteley drove the unlucky bowler Steven Mullaney for a huge six and Guptill then savaged Pattinson, driving the former England bowler for two fours and pulling him into the crowd for his second six.

Whiteley clipped Pattinson over midwicket for another six as 21 came from the over and although Pattinson bowled Guptill in the last over, Whiteley signed off with a four to leave the visitors chasing a tough target.

Tamim Iqbal's debut innings ended with a leading edge to short third man in the third over and Durston picked up his second wicket when Adam Voges chipped tamely to mid on in the fifth over.

But Hales and Patel put the innings back on track with a mixture of power and placement to put on 105 in only 10 overs.

Hales pulled Hughes for his third six to pass 50 off just 27 balls and cleared the ropes two more times before he fell to a fine running catch by Guptill at mid off to put the home side back in the game.

Riki Wessels and Chris Read both went cheaply but Patel was the key and he sealed an impressive victory by straight driving Tim Groenewald for six before lofting Steffan Jones for his seventh four to give the Outlaws their sixth consecutive T20 win at Derby.