Voges and Franks keep Nottinghamshire in hunt

Nottinghamshire 270 for 9 beat Gloucestershire 229 by 41 runs
Scorecard

Nottinghamshire Outlaws kept alive their faint hopes of qualification from Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a 41-run victory over Gloucestershire Gladiators.

After Adam Voges (74) and Riki Wessels (51) had led the hosts to 270 for 9 from their 40 overs, Paul Franks picked up five for 43 as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 229. The visitors were in contention until the 35th over, bowled by Franks, who yorked both Gloucestershire's top scorer Ed Young (50) and Jon Batty to swing the game Nottinghamshire's way.

It was Franks' best domestic one-day figures since May 2000 and the third five-wicket haul of his career, helping Nottinghamshire move up to fourth in their group having played five matches.

The home side's total of 270 always looked competitive with Gloucestershire batting second under the Trent Bridge floodlights. Wessels made an impressive home debut as he added 88 for the second wicket with Samit Patel before both were caught in the deep in consecutive overs from Alex Gidman.

Patel's cause was helped by being dropped three times, while the Gladiators also gave away 32 extras in a sloppy display in the field. The dismissal of Steven Mullaney in the next over appeared to check the Nottinghamshire's momentum, but Voges consolidated in partnership with Chris Read (39) before the pair took the batting powerplay in the 32nd over and wreaked havoc.

With 59 runs scored in the powerplay and 100 in the final 10 overs, the pair's combination of quick running between the wickets and strong hitting put Nottinghamshire firmly in charge, despite a late flurry of wickets at the death. Voges in particular excelled with seven boundaries in his 60-ball innings before he became one of three wickets for Jon Lewis.

Needing close to seven runs an over to win from the start, Gloucestershire came out swinging, with Alex Gidman hitting seven fours off 38 balls before he feathered a thin edge off Andre Adams to Read behind the stumps.

Franks' arrival proved crucial as he removed Chris Taylor lbw for 34 and Kane Williamson, caught at midwicket for 35, in consecutive overs. Ireland's World Cup hero and former Nottinghamshire player Kevin O'Brien ran himself out before Young displayed a strong bottom hand to keep Gloucestershire hopes alive with a 37-ball 50.

But when Franks bowled Young and Batty the game was all but finished, with Ian Saxelby miscuing to cover and Franks having Lewis caught at point to close out the match, with Will Gidman absent hurt.