Lumb heroics ensure Nottinghamshire take advantage

Former Yorkshire batsman Lumb smashed an impressive six sixes and five fours as he raced to 62 from just 26 balls before he was caught, while James Taylor (45) and Riki Wessels (32) also contributed as Nottinghamshire made 196-3, their highest score against Leicestershire in Twenty20 cricket.

Tight bowling from Andy Carter (3-12) and Graeme White (2- 19) put Leicestershire well behind the run-rate and despite Abdul Razzaq’s 69 from 50 balls, with 11 fours and a six, last season’s T20 champions could only make 127-9 in reply as they finished bottom of the North Group.

Former Headingley favourite Lumb hit boundaries off the first deliveries he faced from Leicestershire’s opening four bowlers, including a six off Razzaq, whose first over went for 19.

Wayne White finally ended the carnage in his first over, but only after conceding three sixes to Lumb over midwicket, while Taylor holed out to long-off two overs later, after hitting three sixes and a four of his own.

Wessels added four fours and another six before he gave James Sykes his second wicket, falling in similar fashion to Taylor, with Adam Voges and Chris Read putting on an unbeaten 35 in the final four overs to really boost the Nottinghamshire score.

Harry Gurney then struck with the fourth ball of the Leicestershire chase as Josh Cobb could only pick out Graeme White at mid-off, although Razzaq hit five fours in the next two overs to keep the visitors in touch.

The Pakistan all-rounder was playing a lone hand, however, as he was the only batsman to score a boundary after Carter had demolished Greg Smith’s off-stump in the sixth over.

Graeme White’s teasing left-arm spin conceded just one boundary from his four overs, as well as bowling Ramnaresh Sarwan and removing Razzaq, caught behind by Read off the second ball back following a 25-minute break for rain.

That wicket virtually clinched the match, with Carter returning to bowl Robert Taylor and Wayne White, while Voges and Darren Pattinson were also in the wickets as the Outlaws claimed a home quarter-final after finishing as the best second-placed team from the three groups.

Hampshire’s match with Essex was washed out without a ball being bowled at the Ageas Bowl.

Pools of water on the outfield after overnight rain and more showers yesterday morning made for difficult mopping-up operations for groundsman Nigel Gray.

Umpires made three inspections before calling off the match soon after 5pm just when it looked as if a five-over-per-side match might still be played.