Thornely 97 not enough for Unicorns

Nottinghamshire 204 for 3 beat Unicorns 200 for 4 by seven wickets
Scorecard

Nottinghamshire breathed life into their Clydesdale Bank 40 League campaign with a seven-wicket victory over fellow Group C strugglers Unicorns at Wormsley.

The hosts reached 200 for 4 from their 40 overs after being put in to bat - with Michael Thornely (97) top-scoring. However, a solid all-round batting effort enabled Nottinghamshire to wrap up a comfortable success - their first in three matches - with 39 deliveries to spare.

Australian Adam Voges led the way with an unbeaten 60 from 56 balls, including nine fours, sharing in a 103-run stand for the third wicket with Samit Patel.

Earlier, Thornely and James Campbell put on 64 for the first wicket for Unicorns, before the latter fell leg before wicket to Paul Franks on 33. Thornely and Josh Knappett contributed 105 for the second wicket, with the stand ending when Knappett was caught and bowled by Darren Pattinson for 43, an innings which contained five fours.

Robin Lett fell for 10 when he was bowled by Franks and Thornely had moved to within three runs of a century when he was bowled by Pattinson off the final balls of the innings, ending an entertaining 95-ball knock which contained nine fours.

Nottinghamshire's reply started strongly, with Akhil Patel and Mark Wagh putting on 72 runs for the first wicket. The stand ended when Wagh was dismissed for 31, caught by Lett off the bowling of Glen Querl.

Just one run had been added when Patel departed for 35, bowled by Amar Rashid. However, that brought together Patel and Voges - and they had taken their team to the brink of victory by the time they were separated.

Patel fell for 50 from 53 balls, caught by Luis Reece off the bowling of Neil Saker. But Voges and Ali Brown (16 not out) teamed up inflict a fifth defeat in as many matches on Unicorns.