Gladiators 116 (Ealham 4-18, Clough 3-22, Sidebottom 3-26)
Outlaws 117-9 (Singh 41)

Notts Outlaws won by one wicket

The Director of Cricket was not impressed with the batting from his top order and knows there will need to be a significant improvement to stand a chance against the Royals, who are also battling for their lives.

Warned Newell: ?If we don?t bat better than this Worcestershire will blow us away. Chasing 117 shouldn?t create that kind of problem and we can?t afford to do that again.

?The first four wickets were not clever shots and the top order didn?t perform at all.

?It was a pretty ordinary display of batting from both sides. The wicket wasn?t too good but we have to apply ourselves better.

?Anurag Singh showed it wasn?t impossible and scored runs without taking risks but I never really thought we were winning the game at any stage of our innings.

?At this stage of the season we?ll take a win, however it happens, but we can?t expect the tail to push over the line.?

On a seaming, swinging wicket, Ryan Sidebottom claimed early wickets before Mark Ealham and Gareth Clough finished off the opposition inside 30 overs.

Things got no easier under the floodlights but Singh stuck around for a gusty 41 and a partnership of 19 between Smith and Sidebottom saw us squeeze home.