Patel, Lumb keep Notts unbeaten

Nottinghamshire ended Derbyshire's winning run in the Friends Life t20 when they cruised to a six-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare in the top-of-the-table clash at Derby. A sell-out crowd of 4,999 packed into the County Ground but the match was something of an anti-climax as Nottinghamshire comfortably overhauled Derbyshire's total on a slow pitch with Michael Lumb leading the chase with 45 from 41 balls.

Samit Patel took the bowling honours for the visitors with 3 for 16 in his four overs and although Derbyshire spinner David Wainwright was equally impressive with 3 for 21, it was not enough to prevent Nottinghamshire leapfrogging the hosts to go top of the North Group.

Derbyshire had been aiming to win four games in a row for the first time in domestic Twenty20 but lost both openers with only nine on the board and tight bowling backed up by sharp fielding kept Nottinghamshire in control. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught behind as he tried to nudge Jake Ball to third man in the eighth over and skipper Wayne Madsen was run out by a direct hit from Chris Read two overs later for 36 from 28 balls.

Derbyshire were so pegged down that they did not hit a boundary for 52 balls and Patel had Dan Redfern caught behind cutting before he landed a double blow in his final over when he struck twice to reduce the home side to 84 for 8.

Jon Clare was caught at long-off and the next ball ended Derbyshire's hopes of setting a challenging total when Albie Morkel was bowled for 9 giving Patel the charge. At least Wainwright and Tim Groenewald gave Derbyshire a measure of respectability by adding 24 from 22 balls but the Outlaws knew they did not need to take risks to chase down the target.

Derbyshire needed early wickets to have any chance but Lumb twice drove Morkel through the covers for four as Nottinghamshire cruised to 41 without loss after five overs before Wainwright gave the home crowd something to cheer with two wickets in consecutive balls. Alex Hales was bowled as he pushed forward and Rikki Wessels was lbw first ball and the spinners proved hard to get away as only two fours came in 7.5 overs.

Lumb swung Madsen over deep midwicket for six but was run out off the next ball and although Taylor was caught at slip with 13 needed, David Hussey and Patel clubbed three fours in five balls to complete an impressive night's work by Nottinghamshire.