Notts Outlaws slipped to their second consecutive defeat in this season’s Friends Life t20 competition and missed out on the opportunity of returning to the top of the North Group.
A stunning innings of 72 not out, by 22-year-old Ben Stokes, guided Durham Dynamos to their victory target of 160 with the winning run coming from the final ball of the contest.
Earlier Notts had scored 159 for seven, with James Taylor top-scoring with 54, before the visitors recorded a 3-wicket success with Michael Richardson scoring the winning run.
After Mark Stoneman had won the toss and elected to insert the Outlaws, Michael Lumb and Alex Hales began against an all-spin combination of Will Smith and Gareth Breese.
Lumb, who had scored 96 when the sides met in the north east two weeks ago, was seen off quickly this time, falling lbw to Breese in the second over.
Hales had a mighty scare in the next over, stranded halfway down he would have been run out but for Smith failing to gather Stoneman’s return cleanly.
Samit Patel tucked into Breese in the fourth over, hitting him for three consecutive boundaries. A single gave his partner the strike for the final two balls which brought a boundary and then a gifted four overthrows as another Stoneman shy ricocheted off the stumps.
Graham Onions, omitted from the England Test squad, began his spell with Patel again finding the ropes with back-to-back fours.
Another bowling change saw Chris Rushworth into the attack and the first ball of the sixth over disappeared over the extra cover ropes to bring the 50 up, again hit by a pumped-up Patel.
54 runs came from the initial power-play overs but the next delivery saw the end of Patel’s (33) stunning innings as Onions’ yorker clipped the base of his off stump.
James Taylor joined Hales and the pair added 38 in 5.2 overs before Durham struck through Ryan Pringle, the spinner having Hales (41) caught in the deep by Scott Borthwick.
Captain David Hussey made 10 before being bowled by former team-mate Smith and Steven Mullaney (2) was run out by a direct hit from Stoneman after backing up too far.
Chris Read (1) also went to Smith – lbw. Taylor moved on to 47 in the penultimate over by flicking Rushworth into the New Stand.
Taylor (54) brought up his half century (41 balls 3x4, 1x6) but was holed out to Borthwick, off Breese, to the final ball of the innings – shortly after Ian Butler (11 not out) had helped the same bowler over the ropes for a much-needed maximum.
Ajmal Shahzad struck in the first over of the reply, bowling Mark Stoneman for 5.
Harry Gurney then nipped out both Borthwick (7) and Smith (6) as the Dynamos ended the power-play on 33-3.
The dangerous Phil Mustard (13) went next, sent on his way by a stunning sliding catch from Hales in the deep, off Mullaney.
Some power hitting from Ben Stokes proved that the visitors weren’t finished with – he hit sixes from four different bowlers on his way into the 40s.
A diving Lumb then brought a much-needed breakthrough, as he accounted for Gordon Muchall (8) off Graeme White.
Breese hit Mullaney for a six and a couple of fours in the 15th over to keep the visitors neck and neck with where Notts were at the same stage.
Stokes 50 arrived (34 balls, 0x4, 4x6) and he then hit the returning Gurney for his fifth maximum to leave 22 needed from 16 balls.
The bowler gave Notts hope by having Breese (22) well caught by a diving Taylor with only 15 required but by that stage the match was Durham’s to lose.
Hussey took the responsibility of bowling the final over and it came down to the last ball with the scores tied but Richardson (2 not out) punched the winning down the ground to lift his side above Leicestershire and Yorkshire into fourth place.
Notts remain second and go to Headingley to play Yorkshire Vikings on Sunday.
Click here to purchase tickets for Notts Outlaws Friends Life t20 matches at Trent Bridge.
Notts Outlaws Friends Life t20 matches at Trent Bridge
Tuesday 23 July Vs Derbyshire Falcons - 6.30pm TICKETS
Friday 26 July Vs Yorkshire Vikings - 6pm TICKETS
Sunday 28 July Vs Lancashire Lightning - 2.40pm TICKETS
Buy In Advance & Save:
Adult tickets £13 / Under 16s and Over 65s £7 / Family ticket (2+2) £33
On the day prices:
Adult tickets £16 / Under 16s / Over 65s £16 / Family ticket (2+2) £40
Enjoy Friends Life t20 hospitality at Trent Bridge for £84 per person
Your package will include:
- Use of a private suite in the Radcliffe Road Stand with a balcony overlooking the field of play
- Nibbles served on arrival
- Hot main dish served in your suite 30 minutes before the start of play
- Cheese, biscuits and chutney during the interval
- Match scorecard
- Box host
- Car Parking 1:4
Steak, chips and cricket: click here to enjoy informal hospitality for just £25
Read our free Friends Life t20 Event Guide here.