Quarter-final Vitality Blast, Trent Bridge Hampshire Hawks, 125-9 (20 runs): Prest 44; Fuller 30; Paterson 3-2 Notts Outlaws, 123 (19.4 runs): Clarke 42, Dawson 3-6 Match scorecard
The Notts Outlaws were unable to make it to the fifth Finals Day in six years, as Hampshire won a thrilling T20 Blast victory at Trent Bridge.
After being asked to bat first, the visitors were reduced to just 40-5. They could not manage a score above 125-9.
Joe Clarke scored 42 runs for Notts and passed 400 runs in the competition before his dismissal.
They had to score three in the final over. Dane Paterson was caught behind, as they were all out for number 123.
In recent years, the Outlaws have been the dominant force of English domestic T20 cricket. They won the trophy in 2017 & 2020, and reached Finals Day in 2016 & 2019.
Hampshire, who has previously won quarter-finals at Trent Bridge twice in 2012 and 2014, entered the game without Colin de Grandhomme who is currently preparing for New Zealand’s T20 series in Bangladesh.
Notts was on top from the beginning thanks to early wickets
After Steven Mullaney had them in, they were in serious trouble. James Vince was able to catch Samit Patel and take him for six. They struggled to gain any momentum.
Calvin Harrison scored a hat trick after he bowled Lewis McManus, and then took a return catch by Liam Dawson. He reached 20 wickets. Tom Prest (aged 18) made 44 while he added 49 runs with James Fuller (30).
The Hawks' only notable partnership was Paterson's 3-22 pace bowling run.
Hampshire's total was not enough to challenge a Notts bats line-up led by Alex Hales. They scored 463 runs in group games and had three other players with over 300 runs.
A brief appearance by the dangerous Hales
Joe Clarke scored 408 runs in the T20 Blast for Notts Outlaws this year
Hales made an early six but was caught by Dawson for 19. The home side was then hit again when Ben Duckett was outed by Fuller's direct hit. Fuller had swerved to avoid colliding with Scott Currie.
Although Clarke was still at the crease, it seemed relatively easy sailing for Notts. But when Dawson (3-24) also fell, caught at extra cover it signaled a collapse of 83-3 to 909.
Currie and Dawson each took two in two balls. Harrison was earlier in the game. However, Matt Carter hit two sixes against Chris Wood to bring Notts to victory.
According to rules for a tie, even two runs would have been sufficient in the final over to put Notts through. However, Paterson was unable rotate the strike and ultimately edged Brad Wheal’s fourth delivery to Brad Wheal, leaving Carter at 23 not out.
Hampshire's dramatic win saw them through to the Finals Day, the first time they have been there since 2017 when they were defeated by Notts.
Yorkshire beat Sussex Sharks by five wickets on Tuesday night's first quarter-final.
Notts Outlaws skipper Steven Mullaney:
"We are a little stunned. This is a score that we should have fought for. Hampshire deserves credit for sticking with it. But, we are much better than that and should be heading to Finals Day.
"Carts gave us an excellent chance with those sixes at end and Dane thought it was the right ball for him to attack. But it shouldn't have been down to them at the final, we should have taken more responsibility at the top six or seven, and won.
"I'm proud to have done well in the competition, especially after we lost Dan Christian six days prior to the start. However, we also pride ourselves in being able adapt to different situations, and that's what we did tonight."
James Vince, Hampshire Hawks captain:
"We agreed at half-way that no matter what happened, we would continue on to the end. And we did just that.
"That's been our story all through the competition. From the place we were in, to winning the last five, it shows how strong the group is. We were great with the ball, even though it didn't go our way tonight.
"The wicket was not smooth and it helped our bowlers. We tried to get them to hit in areas we believed we could, but it's one thing to plan and another to execute it. Our lads were exceptional."
Coming up
Thursday, 19:00 BST (start)
Somerset v Lancashire Lightning
Friday (19:00).
Kent Spitfires v Birmingham Bears
