The Nottinghamshire Academy slipped to a narrow defeat against West Indian Cavaliers, increasing the gap between the third and fourth placed teams in the Notts Premier League to 30 points.
The Cavaliers won the toss and elected to field, but the Notts batsmen started strongly. Kelsall and Rowe took the Academy to 110 before the first wicket, Rowe stumped off the bowling off Usman Afzaal. At this stage, Kelsall was unbeaten on 55, and alongside him Hassan Azad accrued 28 before being caught behind off Hassan in the 36th, Notts looking set for a good total on 157-2.
However, after Kelsall was caught on the boundary off Hassan for 75, progress slowed and six wickets fell for the addition of just 44 runs. Sam Wood was the only other batsman to reach double figures before he was run out, Hassan and Afzaal sharing the wickets and restricting the Academy to 208-9 from their 50 overs. Hassan finished with 4-45 off 12 overs, and Afzaal 4-49 from his 14.
Luke Wood slowed the reply early on, trapping Hassan for 7 in the 4th over. Aaron Thomas joined Patel, and the Cavaliers moved steadily on before Andrew Parkin-Coates took an excellent catch to dismiss Thomas off Ben Kitt.
Afzaal took to the crease and scored 31 before being caught by Parkin-Coates off Tillcock. The next over Sam Wood bowled Bilal Shafayat, the Cavaliers 106-4. Opener Patel was still in, however, and reached 75 before being bowled by Luke Wood.
At this stage, the Academy lead was reduced to 42, and Gada joined Williamson, who was 28 not out. The pair chipped away at the total before rain interrupted. On resumption, Gada was caught by Tillcock off Bacon but Ata-ur Rehman hit a final boundary in the 49th to take the Cavaliers over the line.