Shafayat and Voges keep their cool

15 July 2008

Adam Voges forces off the back foot as he Samit Patel see Nottinghamshire home

An unbroken century stand between Bilal Shafayat and Adam Voges guided Nottinghamshire to a six-wicket win over reigning champions Worcestershire in the opening NatWest Pro40 match of the season.

Shafayat led the way with 67 not out while Voges made an unbeaten 64 as the Outlaws reached their target of 185 with 22 balls to spare under the floodlights at New Road.

They eased any nerves in the visitors’ dressing room with an unbroken 128-run partnership after they had slipped to an uncomfortable 60 for four.

Shafayat hit six fours off 73 deliveries while Voges struck five fours in his 85-ball innings.

Last season Worcestershire lost only one match in the competition when they finished three points better off than runners-up Notts.

The Royals had been grateful for a crucial 74 by Steve Davies in their below-par 184 for nine, with Samit Patel claiming 3-33.

Davies, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper, struck 10 fours off 82 balls as he registered his second one-day half-century of the season.

It was a valuable knock for Worcestershire, whose decision to bat first after winning the toss went under the microscope when they lost captain Vikram Solanki, Stephen Moore and Ben Smith inside the opening nine overs.

Skipper Solanki was trapped lbw by Andre Adams before Moore and Smith both fell to Darren Pattinson.

Mark Wagh has his off stump uprooted in thrilling fashion by the impressive Kabir Ali at New Road

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Worcestershire - unable to play in the competition at New Road last season because of severe flooding - began to pep their flagging fortunes thanks to Davies and Graeme Hick.

They put on 76 in 16 overs before Davies dragged his back leg out of the crease while playing forward to spinner Graeme Swann to be stumped by Chris Read.

He was quickly followed by Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali, both of whom were removed by left-arm spinner Patel, who followed up by catching Hick at gully off Paul Franks for 39.

Patel yorked Gareth Batty before holding another catch, this time to account for Gareth Andrew.

Notts experienced an uncertain start to their victory chase with Kabir Ali removing Matthew Wood and Mark Wagh before Swann played on to Andrew after hitting one six and four fours in his 28.

Patel’s innings was ended courtesy of a low catch at short midwicket by Hick off Andrew.

But his departure opened the gates for Shafayat and Voges to steer Notts home against a Worcestershire side who rested paceman Simon Jones in readiness to face former county Glamorgan in the LV County Championship Division Two match which starts at New Road on Thursday.