Notts secure promotion to division one off final ball

With a thrilling last ball victory Notts Outlaws clinched promotion to Division One of the NCL. Matt Maynard, skipper of the Glamorgan Dragons, could have spoiled the victory celebrations as he was required to hit the final ball of the match for a 6 to give his side the win. A full pitched delivery from AJ Harris could only be worked away for a single to herald a pitch invasion from the happy home fans.

Needing to win both of their final matches to have a chance of going up Glamorgan were always going to pursue their 230 victory target with purpose but they made the worst possible start, losing a wicket in the first over.

Keith Newell, the most successful of the Dragons bowlers, fell for a third ball duck taken by Richard Stemp at point off Paul Reiffel.

Ian Thomas batted fluently to make 36, with 26 of the runs coming in boundaries. There were one or two exchanges between him and Paul Franks but the final word went to the bowler who managed to cling on to a fiercely hit return.

Steve James has been the scourge of Notts in recent seasons and even with a fractured thumb he made a well-constructed 29 before falling to a sharp catch at the wicket by Chris Read off Chris Tolley.

Matt Maynard and Adrian Dale brought the 100 up in the 23rd over but not before there had been major concern for Dale. A sharp piece of wicketkeeping by Chris read looked to have brought off a brilliant stumping but after sevearl replays the third umpire gave the decision, controversially, in favour of the batsman.

Dale went on to make 20 before falling, ironically, to a catch by Read as he tried to sweep Richard Stemp. That made the score 137-4 but with Maynard still at the wicket Glamorgan remained favourite.

The Dragons skipper passed his half century (62 balls 6x4's) with a gentle push on the offside and he was indebted to Michael Powell for an injection into the run-rate. Powell hit the first six of the contest when he launched AJ Harris over deep midwicket during an over which yielded 12 runs.

In gloomy conditions Paul Reiffel was proving harder to get away but a rare legside delivery was punished by Maynard to bring up the 50 partnership as the target came within reach.

The return of Paul Franks coincided with the wicket that the Outlaws desperately needed - as Powell, who'd hit 28 from 32 balls, played over a full pitched ball and lost his middle stick.

Maynard remained though, and with the aggressive Robert Croft as his new partner there was no need for any risks. A large home crowd cheer every dot ball whilst followers of the Dragons ensured a tense atmosphere as they roared their heroes towards the finishing line.

Glamorgan passed 200 but then lost Croft to an amazing catch by the diving Read to give the jubilant Franks a third victim.

10 were needed from the final over and only 5 from the 3 when Maynard clubbed Harris through midwicket but the bowler held his nerve as Notts scraped home.

Earlier Usman Afzaal and Paul Johnson both made half centuries as they put on 107 for the fourth wicket but the Notts total of 229-9 always looked within reach - it wasn't, but only just!