T20 Blast 2023, is witnessing some amazing cricket as the teams have given it their all. The fans have also enjoyed the engrossing battle between the bat and ball. The game on Friday saw midlands teams face each other in the North Group. The match was between Warwickshire who were top of the table facing Nottinghamshire who were 4th in the table. The game was played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in front of a packed ground.
The story so far –
Warwickshire captain Mullaney won the toss and chose to bat first. Warwickshire had the exciting Shaheen Afridi leading their bowling attack along with Alex Hales their star batter. The home team too had a Pakistani participant in the form of Hasan Ali along with Glenn Maxwell of Australia.
Afridi’s carnage in the 1st over –
Warwickshire were tasked with chasing 169 to win from 20 overs in a bid to keep their top spot in the table. The first over was bowled by Shaheen Afridi to Alex Davies was the 1st ball went for five wides. The next ball, which was the 1st legal delivery saw Afridi leave Davies flat on the ground as the batter was out LBW for a duck.
The next ball the Pakistani left arm pacer got the wicket of Chris Benjamin with a perfect Yorker. Benjamin, too was out for 1st ball duck as Afridi was on a hattrick. Mousley then denied Afridi the Hat-Trick. Afridi though had the last laugh when he got Mousley caught by Stone for 1. It was the turn of Ed Barnard who was bowled by Afridi for a duck as Warwickshire were reduced to 7-4 in their 1st over.
Shaheen Afridi, you cannot do that!! 💥 https://t.co/ehXxmtz6rX pic.twitter.com/wvibWa17zA
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 30, 2023
Tom Moores leads Nottingham to 168 –
Opting to bat first, Nottinghamshire saw Alex Hales fall early for 4. Joe Clarke and Lyndon James then added 45 for the 2nd wicket. Clarke, was out for 28 while James was out for 37. The top scorer for the home team was Tom Moores who scored 73 off 42 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. Hasan Ali and Lintoff picked 3 wickets each for the Warwickshire side.
Robert Yates holds firm to lead his team a close win –
After finding themselves at 7/4 in the 1st over, Robert Yates the Warwickshire opener dug in to score 65 off 46 balls 3 fours and 5 sixes. Glenn Maxwell scored 19 while Bethell and Lintoff scored 27 each. Despite the start by Afridi, Warwickshire stunned the host to win the game by 2 wickets with 5 balls left to keep their spot at the top of the table secure.