Miserly, masterful Samit Patel leads Nottinghamshire to thumping win over Worcestershire

There were only two boundaries in the Worcestershire innings – the first of them from the 66th legitimate delivery – and their final total of 86 for 8 was the equal second-lowest in their T20 history. It took Nottinghamshire just 38 balls to overhaul their target and they did so without losing a wicket. The entire match was over in 114 minutes.

It’s the second time in Nottinghamshire’s history that they have won a T20 match by 10 wickets (the previous one was against Middlesex in 2019) and the first time Worcestershire have been defeated by such a margin. Really, this was an execution more than a contest.

Indeed, so one-sided was this encounter – again, let’s not call it a contest – that anyone in two minds over whether to attend due to the scheduling clash with England’s footballers need have had no concerns: it was over well before kick-off.

You might think, to look at the scorecard of Worcestershire’s innings, that this was some sort of terror track. But it is not so. While there was a little spin for Patel and co. this was a second horrendous batting performance in succession from Worcestershire. Having lost seven wickets for 12 runs in 24 balls as they succumbed to a thumping 94-run loss against Yorkshire, they produced something even less impressive here. It was a chastening start for Ben Cox in his first game as captain in T20 cricket.

Patel, in particular, harnessed that assistance expertly. Using his variations, his control and that touch of turn, he almost seemed to be toying with Worcestershire’s batters. He had Brett D’Oliveria taken at slip by the batter’s first delivery – the third ball of the match – and, in his next over, had Tom Fell stumped after turning one past him as he charged down the pitch and Riki Wessels slicing one to backward point. He followed it with a maiden to leave Worcestershire reeling at 20 for 4 after the powerplay and returned later to complete his four-over spell by conceding just a single off the 17th over of the innings.

You suspect, given his age (36) and shape (he is not slim, though he very rarely misses a game due to injury) that England will not look in his direction. But if the T20 World Cup is going to played in the UAE or India, a spinning all-rounder of this much guile and experience wouldn’t seem such an absurd idea.

There’s Samit in the way he moves, as George Harrison so nearly put it.

It wasn’t just Patel responsible for Nottinghamshire’s success. Jake Ball and Luke Fletcher also bowled with impressive control and skill, with the former seemingly growing in pace and confidence by the performance and both men utilising the yorker with precision. While Jake Libby and Ross Whiteley added 46 in 8.1 overs for the fifth wicket, the damage inflicted in those opening overs was simply too deep. At 11 for 4 after four overs, this match was all but over.