Blewett and Afzaal destroy Somerset's hopes

A punishing stand of 161 between Greg Blewett and Usman Afzaal powered Notts Outlaws to their fourth NUL victory of the season and a six-wicket win over the Somerset Sabres. Chasing 233, Blewett made 89 and Afzaal was unbeaten on 94 as they reached their target with five balls to spare.

The Outlaws innings hadn't begun well though. John Morris, standing in as opener, made only five before playing on to Richard Johnson and Darren Bicknell, on his 34th birthday, made only 18 before a thin nick from the bowling of Stefan Jones carried through comfortably to Rob Turner behind the stumps.

Blewett and Afzaal then began the rebuilding process with a series of flowing boundaries and intuitive running. As the Sabres strived for a breakthrough the stand fluorished with the Australian delighting a large, sun--drenched crowd with his strokeplay.

He advanced to his second NCL fifty (82 mins 67 balls 7x4s) of the season with a gentle single off Keith Dutch. Afzaal moved into the 40s as the century stand was brought up and reached his own half-entury (85 mins 69 balls 5x4s) shortly afterwards.

Having made 60 there was a five-minute hold-up in play while Blewett received treatment to a facial injury; with no apparent reason for the injury the batsman seemed to be wincing as the Notts physio appeared to treat and re­align his jaw.

Undeterred, he continued to frustrate the bowling and delight his own fans as the victory target was brought down to 57 needed from the final ten overs.

With his first NUL ton there for the taking Blewett fell for 89. Trying to sweep Dutch the ball ballooned off bat and pad, enabling `keeper Turner to run around the batsman and complete the catch.

Paul Johnson glided Ian Blackwell for a first-ball boundary to take the score beyond 200 and moved quickly to 13 before holing out to Jason Kerr. Then it was down to Afzaal to ensure there were no more alarms and the left-hander duly obliged, moving on to 94 and completing the task with the first ball of the final over when he drove the ball straight past bowler Ian Blackwell for the winning boundary.

Earlier the Sabres had recovered from 141--7 to reach 232--9, with both Ian Blackwell and Keith Parsons passing 50 and stand--in skipper Mike Burns hitting 36. Richard Stemp took the bowling plaudits for the Outlaws, being rewarded with 4--25 from his nine-over spell.

The victory was the perfect confidence--booster for the Notts side ahead of their B & H semi-final against Surrey at The Oval on Monday.