Ben Duckett praised the Outlaws’ big-hitting tactics as key to their Vitality Blast triumph, after hitting an unbeaten 53 to help Notts win the final with 16 balls to spare.

Duckett recorded his fourth half-century of the competition in the showpiece, combining with Outlaws Blast debutant Peter Trego for a 63-run stand before seeing out the game in the company of Dan Christian.

The left-hander believes Notts’ willingness to attack early in the run chase was key to their success.

“I think this year when we’ve been chasing, we’ve been so good and we’ve taken risks slightly earlier than needs be,” he said.

“Three or four times now, we’ve actually chased some difficult targets a couple of overs early.

“Taking a game deep on a big day is always risky with the pressure and everything. Anything can happen if you go into the last over of a T20, so it was great for Dan Christian to kill the game off in the semi-final like he did.

“We didn’t speak about it, but in a final you don’t want to need four or five off the last over, so it was very important to try to finish the game early.”

Duckett’s strong white-ball campaign followed a productive four weeks of red-ball cricket, hitting 394 First-Class runs in four games.

The 25-year-old was subsequently named in the PCA’s Greene King Team of the Year – and he feels his productive season is testament to a winter of dedication.

"In a final you don’t want to need four or five off the last over, so it was very important to try to finish the game early."

“I’ve certainly worked very hard over the past 12 months to improve, especially with my fitness,” he said.

“I’m moving a lot better now, and I feel a lot better.

“I hit thousands of balls this winter in the nets too, with Mooresy and Ant Botha, and I think I’ve learned to play my natural game.

“I’ll let the other guys hit the sixes, and I’ll try to hit the spinners for fours and stuff and try to be there at the end

“I’m very proud of what I did this summer in the red-ball stuff, and what I’ve done in the Blast now.”

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