Wakely finds release from testing start to the season

Northants 339 for 9 (Cobb 78, Wakely 72) beat Nottinghamshire 290 (Mullaney 71, White 3-63) by 49 runs
Scorecard

Northants captain Alex Wakely finally found release from a tough start to the season as Northants overcame the defending champions, Nottinghamshire in the Royal London Cup.

Half centuries from Wakely, Josh Cobb and Adam Rossington, backed up by some slow left-arm guile from Graeme White, helped Northamptonshire Steelbacks to a 49-run victory over Notts Outlaws at Market Warsop in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Northants posted 339 for 9 against the defending champions, with Cobb top-scoring with 78 from 90 balls, whilst Wakely made 72 and Rossington added 50.

Harry Gurney, with 2 for 57, returned the pick of the bowling figures for Notts, with Jake Ball and Luke Fletcher also capturing two victims apiece.

In reply, Notts failed to string any significant partnerships together and were bowled out for 290 with 3.4 overs remaining.

Steven Mullaney followed up Thursday's 70 against Lancashire with an innings of 71 but no-one else made a half century. White claimed three for 63 against his former county.

At the start of the day, having been put in by Mullaney, Northants were able to build useful stands, almost at will, on a good track, with a lightning fast outfield.

After Ball, playing on his home club ground, had removed Ben Duckett for 19, the home side came under pressure as Richard Levi, Cobb and Wakeley took the score beyond 200 with 17 overs still to be bowled in the innings.

Cobb, who scored 56 against Leicestershire Foxes on Thursday, hit seven fours and three majestic sixes before hitting Billy Root's off-spin out to Ross Taylor at deep square leg.

Wakely, passing 50 for the first time this season, also hit two maximums before being yorked by Fletcher, after a fourth wicket stand of 65 with Rossington.

In the quest for quick runs, over the closing overs, Steven Crook twice cleared the ropes as he sped to an unbeaten 45 from just 28 deliveries to put the target out of reach.

The Outlaws lost four wickets inside the first 20.1 overs of their reply, including that of Riki Wessels, who made from 47 from 54 balls.

White's left-arm spin tore the heart out of the Notts middle order, removing Taylor and Samit Patel - before adding the prized scalp of the Outlaws captain to his list.

Mullaney had reached his 50 from 47 balls, with six fours and a six and was keeping his side in contention until adjudged to be lbw when sweeping across the line.

Billy Root made 36 and Fletcher plundered 29 from only 20 balls but his side's race had been run long before then.

The victory not only secured two points but also brought an end to a dreadful sequence of results for Northants, who hadn't won in Nottinghamshire in any competition since 2003.