June 30
Leicestershire Foxes 150-4
Notts Outlaws 129-8 (Clough 30*)

Foxes won by 21 runs

After the holders ended our hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals, Newell said he would look to the future by moving 22-year-old Smith up the order against Derbyshire Phantoms.

He said: "I think our hopes of qualification have ended and the remaining matches serve as an opportunity for us to assess how Smith copes in pressure situations.

"So far he?s been facing a few balls at the end of the innings but he?s an opener by choice and he will certainly be coming in earlier against Derbyshire."

Smith faced an impossible task against Leicestershire batting at number nine as we failed to chase a low target after a disastrous start left us only 46-3 after 10 overs.

On a slow pitch, we restricted Leicestershire to 150 with tight bowling from Mark Ealham, Gareth Clough and Graeme Swann.

But our batting never got going and Newell added: "That was our worst batting performance with the bat in the competition and it?s disappointing considering the improvements we?ve made in the past few matches.

"We?ve got two games against Derbyshire which are important to restore pride and also get the winning feeling back in the dressing room before we return to Championship action against Glamorgan next week."