Pollock's all-round skill leads Bears to top of the table

A brilliant all-round performance by Shaun Pollock led Warwickshire Bears to a comfortable victory over Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.

Following up his belligerent innings of 70 by removing the cream of the hosts' batting in an aggressive opening spell, the South African showed his worth in an 85-run victory that saw the Bears remain top of the NUL first division.

The Outlaws never looked likely to threaten the visitors' total after losing their top three within the opening overs. Welton survived a confident lbw appeal second ball, but it did him little good as he was adjudged out next delivery to Pollock. Boje followed a few minutes later; slashing optimistically outside the off stump before Bicknell edged Pollock through to the keeper to leave his side reeling at 13-3.

Although Usman Afzaal and Chris Read threatened to turn the game with a brisk partnership of 59, Pollock responded to being recalled into the attack with the wicket of Read. And when Afzaal, who batted well for his 51 (in 82 balls with three boundaries) was bowled charging down the pitch to Neil Smith's off-spin the writing was on the wall. Shafayat, playing in place of the injured and much-missed Kevin Pietersen, skied a catch off Dougie Brown and Giles mopped up the tail to finish with 3-27.

Earlier Pollock's innings was the corner stone of a challenging Bears score of 236-8 after Notts Outlaws enjoyed the best of the early overs having won the toss and inserted the visitors. Tight bowling by Greg Smith led to Nick Knight, a certainty for England's one-day squad and in fine form following his unbeaten 255 against Hampshire in the week, driving straight to mid off in impatience. But Pollock, once again batting at number three, struck two enormous sixes in his 76-ball stay and enjoyed excellent support from his captain Mike Powell in a 68-run stand.

With Dominic Ostler (40 from 38 balls with two sixes) showing his value as he returned from injury, and Trevor Penney weighing in towards the end (34 not out from 32 balls) the Bears took advantage of some loose bowling in setting their testing target.

Nicky Boje kept the Outlaws in the game. His miserly nine-over spell brought the crucial wickets of Pollock and Bell at a cost of just 25 runs, but in the end the absence of Jason Gallian, Paul Franks and Kevin Pietersen proved too much of a burden for the Outlaws.