Notts Outlaws and Worcestershire Rapids meet under cloudless Friday night skies on 2 June (6.30pm), with the Outlaws looking to continue a fine recent record against their opponents.
As the clash approaches, we take a statistical look back at memorable recent contests between the sides.
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10 – margin of victory, by wickets, at Trent Bridge in 2021
The Rapids bowled out for 86, the target chased down with ease – and all done in time for England's footballers to take centre-stage in their Euro 2020 group game.
Notts Outlaws’ victory over Worcestershire was brief in duration, but will live long in the memory.
Alex Hales smashed 60 off 24 balls as Notts Outlaws thrashed Worcestershire by 10 wickets to go top of the North Group on a night of records in the Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge.
The Outlaws’ speed of victory set an English T20 record too, Hales seeing them home with 82 balls to spare with his 11th four, eclipsing the previous fastest win when Hampshire beat Gloucestershire by seven wickets at Bristol in 2010 with 75 balls remaining.
100 – Trent Bridge wicket tally reached by Samit Patel against Worcestershire in 2022
In the same fixture, stalwart all-rounder Patel became the first bowler to take 100 wickets at Trent Bridge in the format, and only the second to take 100 wickets on any single ground in the world.
The 36-year-old took three for four from four overs with one maiden, recording the most economical four-over spell by any bowler in English T20 cricket history.
5/32 – career-best T20 figures for Luke Fletcher in 2022
Luke Fletcher, currently absent from the Outlaws side through injury, will watch on tonight with fond memories of facing the Rapids.
Fletcher recorded career-best T20 bowling figures of five for 32 as Notts Outlaws kicked off last year’s Blast campaign with a four-wicket win over the Rapids.
Fletcher took the wicket of Ed Barnard with his penultimate delivery of the innings to complete his second career five-for, with Ed Pollock, current Outlaw Colin Munro, Ben Cox and Josh Baker also falling at his hands.
4 – years since the Outlaws were defeated by Worcestershire Rapids
With Notts having cruised home in their final T20 group game of last summer at Worcester, and with a nerve-shredding tie having been secured at New Road in the 2021 Blast curtain-raiser, the Outlaws have begun to compile a strong unbeaten run against tonight’s opponents.
Indeed, it is not since 2019’s season opener at Trent Bridge that the Rapids have beaten Notts in a group-stage encounter.
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