Mullaney helps Notts leapfrog Somerset

Nottinghamshire 144 for 7 beat Somerset 156 for 6 by three wickets (D/L method)
Scorecard

Nottinghamshire replaced Somerset at the top of Group C with a three-wicket victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system in the Clydesdale Bank 40 floodlit match at Taunton.

The visitors reached a twice revised target of 143 in 19 overs with one ball to spare thanks largely to Steve Mullaney's 50 off 30 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and 42 from Chris Read.

Somerset had posted 156 for 6 off 19.2 overs when a shower ended their innings prematurely after the match had been initially reduced to 25 overs per side, Jos Buttler scoring 34 and Nick Compton 34 not out.

A further 55 minutes were lost, resulting in the revised target for Notts of 163 from 19 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system. But after just one over the rain returned and there was another break in play.

With the visitors on three without loss, another revised target of 143 off 16 overs was announced. It meant Notts required a further 140 from 90 balls at more than nine an over. Although they lost wickets steadily, Mullaney's big hitting, having been promoted to opener in the absence of Alex Hales kept them in sight of the required rate.

And after he was brilliantly run out by Marcus Trescothick's direct hit at the bowler's end from backward point Read took over to see his side to the brink of victory, with a slice of luck in the penultimate over when he was dropped by George Dockrell at long-off off Steve Kirby.

Former Somerset player Ben Phillips provided the killer blows with successive boundaries in the final over sent down by Alfonso Thomas.

Phillips had earlier taken the key wicket of Trescothick after the Somerset captain had hit 30 off 19 balls. Craig Kieswetter's bright 23 had helped the hosts to a brisk start, but they slipped to 94 for five before a stand of 62 in eight overs between Buttler and Compton.

Both hit towering sixes over long-off when Samit Patel gave the ball some air. When Buttler was caught at long-on off Luke Fletcher the rain which had fallen steadily for much of the innings got harder, forcing the umpires to take the players off.

Read was named Man of the Match, but it was Mullaney's clean hitting that put Nottinghamshire in with a realistic chance. They now lead Group C with 15 points, while Somerset lie second on 13, having played two fewer games.