Notts Outlaws and Worcestershire Rapids have battled for T20 superiority in recent years, a feud that is still ongoing, with the Trent Bridge-based side leading the head-to-head 4-3 since 2018.

This fixture has seen more than its fair share of entertainment, including a 10-wicket win for Notts in June 2021 on an evening that re-wrote the record books.

Samit Patel and Alex Hales played a starring role on a glittering day at Trent Bridge, with Hales smashing 60 runs from 24 balls whilst Patel took three for four across his four-over stint.

The sun bathed upon the pitch at Trent Bridge, and spirits were high after Notts won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Samit Patel starting off proceedings.

And he hit the ground running, as Brett D’Oliveira departed for a duck as Worcestershire finished the opening over 2/1.

From his second over, Patel collected two more casualties.

Tom Fell was stumped by Tom Moores from the first ball for three before former Outlaw Riki Wessels sent the 60-time England international’s delivery skyward.

Matt Carter duly obliged to make the catch and send the other opener packing for two runs, with Worcestershire backs against the wall at 6/3.

The following over saw the latest entrant Ben Cox join the list of losses, Jake Ball condemning Worcestershire to their fourth dismissal in as many overs.

After the Pears’ shock had subsided, Worcestershire finally threatened to rebuild, until Mullaney stepped up for his second over of the game.

The first ball of the thirteenth over was misjudged by Ross Whitely, leaving Joe Clarke enough time to execute the catch and dismiss the former Derbyshire man for 15.

The captain added his second wicket four balls later, as Libby clouted the ball into the hands of an onrushing Sol Budinger, moving the Rapids to 59/6.

Not to be outdone, Ball returned to bowl his third over late on, Ed Barnard hooking a delivery to Clarke, who must have been sensing deja vu after he successfully plucked his second catch of the evening and removed Barnard for ten.

The next wicket, from the next ball, needed no fielder intervention as Ball demolished Ben Dwarshuis’ stumps for twelve.

And while Ball couldn’t manage the hat-trick, Worcestershire could only limp to 86/8, their lowest 20-over total in the history of the format

Clarke and Hales stepped up to bat for Notts and achieved the 87 target in double-quick time.

Hales took control, hammering 55 off 20 balls, including two vicious sixes in the third over, and Clarke ended his batting stint unbeaten on 19, which contained one six and two fours.

The day however belonged to Patel, who became the first bowler to take 100 wickets at Trent Bridge in Twenty20 cricket and the second to take 100 wickets on any single ground in the world.

His performance was the most economical four-over spell by any bowler in English T20 cricket history.

Hales’ innings, meanwhile, had helped haul the Outlaws to victory with 82 balls to spare, the fastest win in English T20 history.

It was a day to remember for those who witnessed it, during a year when English cricket was slowly returning to normality after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a further statement that Patel and Hales are two of the greatest to grace the Trent Bridge turf.