Notts consolidate top spot despite Moores, Clarke and Budinger’s absences
Nottinghamshire 156 for 4 (Patel 63*) beats Leicestershire 154 (Harrison 3-20, Fletcher 3-31) by six wickets
The Outlaws were forced to make three changes with Tom Moores unwell and both Joe Clarke and Sol Budinger obliged to wait for Covid tests after being alerted by the NHS app.
An eventful Powerplay saw the Foxes post 47 for 2. They lost Scott Steel for a duck in the first over as Ben Duckett – keeping wicket for the absent Moores – showed neat glovework. Lilley survived on one as Fletcher and Lyndon James collided under a top-edged reverse-sweep and made them pay with 27 off 20 balls before he was yorked.
They lost momentum after wickets fell in consecutive balls to Harrison, Josh Inglis finding long-off before Colin Ackermann chipped back to the bowler.
Lewis Hill lofted sixes off Steven Mullaney and offspinner Matt Carter but was caught at midwicket off Fletcher, Rishi Patel was lbw sweeping as Harrison picked up his third wicket and Swindells misjudged a slower ball to be caught at mid-off. Naveen was run out and Fletcher was rewarded with wickets in his last two overs and though Mike clubbed two sixes off Ball, the Foxes’ total looked below par.
Patel was dropped at backward point on 10 off Naveen and at short midwicket on 26 off Steel, albeit both difficult chances, but he and Slater brought the target down to 71 at halfway. Slater had an escape when he was spilled at extra cover off Mike on 37.
Slater missed out on a half-century, trapped in front by Parkinson, before Patel drove Naveen through the covers to finish the job.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo