Alex Hales’ 91 runs helped Nottinghamshire beat Derbyshire

Due to Alex Hales’ superb hard-hitting effort, Notts Outlaws defeated Derbyshire Falcons by seven wickets in the Vitality Blast in Derby.

Hales thrashed the bowlers, slamming 12 fours and five sixes in a brilliant 91 off only 33 deliveries. As Outlaws chased down Falcons’ 178 in the 18th over, he controlled an opening stand of 119 off 51 balls with Joe Clarke.

Jake Ball pinned the Falcons back with three wickets in the last over to end with 4 for 40. Leus du Plooy top scored with 51 and Wayne Madsen made 40, but Jake Ball took three wickets in the final over to finish with 4 for 40.

After being put in, the Falcons started slowly, but took off when Luis Reece lifted James Pattinson for two sixes in the fourth over, which cost 20. Shan Masood used pure timing to guide Matt Carter through the covers for four, and when Ball returned in the final over of the powerplay, the Falcons skipper added three more boundaries.

When Calvin Harrison bowled Masood for 33 from 23 balls as he stepped away to cut the legspinner, the Outlaws slammed on the brakes.

Reece bowled Samit Patel for 27 runs in the next over, and the spinners gave up only 24 runs in four overs to leave Falcons on 84 for 2 at the midway point of the innings.

Pattinson and Steven Mullaney kept the pressure on, but Madsen reverse swept Matt Carter for six before du Plooy smashed the offspinner over the ropes at long on in the 14th over, giving the visitors 17 runs. After failing to beat Dan Christian’s throw from cover, du Plooy reached 50 off 33 balls, but Madsen drove and pulled Ball for three consecutive fours in the 18th over.

Ball answered by bowling Madsen, but Pattinson was hoisted over the midwicket boundary by Harry Came as the last over yielded 15 runs.

Ball got three wickets and gave up only four runs in a stunning last over to keep Falcons under 180, but Hales smashed what appeared to be a competitive score.

He began the chase by driving Sam Conners for two fours, then sweeping Mark Watts for six, and finally tucking into George Scrimshaw. As Hales raced to 50 off only 18 balls, the quick bowler was pulled for six and driven for three fours, with 20 coming from the fourth over and another 18 coming from the next over.

In the sixth over, Hales ripped Conners apart, slamming a six and four fours to take Outlaws to 95 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. He hammered Matt McKiernan for two more sixes, but Clarke swept him to deep square leg in the ninth over, breaking the stand.