Afzaal steers Notts to dramatic victory

The Criclnfo-sponsored Notts Outlaws recorded their second consecutive win in the National League this season, beating the Warwickshire Bears at Trent Bridge by four wickets.

Set 203 to win, the home side left it late before launching a vigorous assault inside the last few overs to snatch a dramatic victory with Usman Afzaal taking the batting honours with a magnificent 94 not out.

Bears' seamer Charlie Dagnall made early inroads into the Outlaws batting by removing both openers in identical fashion, Guy Welton for five and the in--form Darren Bicknell for 18, both falling to fine diving slip catches by Dominic Ostler.

The situation would have been even worse for Notts but Ostler then somehow spilled an easier offering when Greg Blewett had only made three, again off the bowling of Dagnall.

Blewett, for once, seemed out of sorts and took 13 overs to reach double figures. He'd progressed to 14 when he edged Neil Smith to 'keeper Keith Piper to leave Notts on 61--3 in the 21st over.

Usman Afzaal batted sensibly but the run rate was gradually increasing as both he and Paul Johnson manipulated rather than monopolised the bowling, leaving 130 runs to get from the final 20 overs

Whilst Johnson was at the wicket Notts were always capable of matching that sort of rate but on 20 he tried to hook Dougie Brown and spooned another catch to Ostler, now posted at short mid-wicket,

Afzaal cut Smith to the backward point boundary to bring up the 100 in the 31st over but the plight worsened in the next over when Pietersen played the ball on to his stumps, off Brown.

A risky partnership between Afzaal and Chris Read developed with plenty of chancy singles and unorthodox shots but Afzaal deservedly reached his half century (89 mins 73 balls 5x4s). Read then twice drove Mo Sheikh to the boundary with two of the most fluent shots of the day. Twenty-two runs came from just two overs to leave the target at 57 from 8 overs.

As the running became more and more frantic and the excitement levels increased with every ball, the Notts pair inched closer and closer but 33 were still needed from five overs.

The stand had been worth a magnificent 77 when Read fell to Brown for 36, dragging the ball back on to his stumps. Afzaal kept going though, moving into the 80s with a glorious stroke off Drakes and then matching it with another off Brown.

The late flurry of runs meant only five were needed from the final over end Afzaal and Paul Franks got there with just two balls to spare to seal an extraordinary triumph. Afzaal left the ground to a standing ovation before being engulfed by his jubilant team--mates.

Earlier the Bears had been restricted to 202--7 in their 45 overs, having at one stage been 110--1. Opener Mark Wagh top scored with 50 and Dougie Brown held the middle order together with 44. For the home side Kevin Pietersen was the most successful bowler, with 3-39 from his nine-over allocation.