Munro Hits Fifty But Outlaws Fall Short

Colin Munro struck a rapid half-century but Notts Outlaws fell to defeat in a high-scoring Saturday night clash with Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford.

Chasing the hosts’ 208/4, which had been driven by Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 85 from 41, the Outlaws put on a valiant effort as fellow New Zealander Munro hit 60 off 29, but ultimately fell short with 186/5 to lose by 22 runs.

Samit Patel had been the pick of the visiting attack with two wickets, alongside one each for Shaheen Afridi and Conor McKerr, but Luke Wood’s return of 2-29 for the Lightning proved a key differential.

Having been asked to field first for the second night in succession, Notts had to fight hard from the off as the hosts’ opening pair of Phil Salt and Luke Wells started strongly.

The duo raced to the Lightning team fifty inside five overs, though they were pegged back when McKerr struck to remove Wells for 38, with Tom Moores snaffling the edge of an almighty swing.

Steven Croft’s stay was far briefer, slashing to McKerr at backward point off Patel in the eighth over for six, before the Outlaws’ reeling-in of Lancs continued as Patel bowled Salt for 34 just before halfway.

However, it was the axis of Mitchell and Liam Livingstone that did the damage, adding 82 for the fourth wicket in 45 balls, a stand that included eight boundaries.

It was broken in the 18th over as Afridi took the crucial wicket of Livingstone, caught by Hales at long-on, for 32 as the Outlaws looked for some late impetus.

Despite that, Mitchell instead ensured it would be the hosts who would be the happier walking off the field at halfway, as he hit four boundaries in what remained of the innings to hoist Lancs above 200.

The Outlaws’ reply got off to a less-than-ideal start as Hales and Clarke were both removed by Luke Wood inside the opening three overs to reduce the visitors to 8/2.

However, Munro and Montgomery fought back with a stand of 78 for the third wicket, with the former at one point striking three sixes in five balls to restore some health at 55/2 after the powerplay.

Another boundary in the eighth over, this time along the carpet, took the New Zealander to his fifty in 24 deliveries, with four fours and four sixes.

He fell shortly after, however, caught by Phil Salt off Wells, though Montgomery’s response was hardly to play the role of shrinking violet, though, hitting two fours of his own off Livingstone.

That pushed the Outlaws past three figures and to 108/3 after 11, but just as he was looking to push on in pursuit of his own fifty, he was run out by Mitchell’s throw at the bowler’s end for 41.

Moores and captain Steven Mullaney battled valiantly to keep the rate within touch of what was required, though the latter’s dismissal, after striking three fours in four balls, stunted those efforts.

As the rate crept away beyond the reach of the visitors, it fell to Lyndon James and Moores to find 27 from the final over, but they were only able to muster six as Saqib Mahmood closed the game out.