Unbeaten home record falls for Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire lost their unbeaten home record in this season's Friends Provident t20 with a 23-run defeat under the Duckworth-Lewis method at the hands of Leicestershire
16-Jul-2010
Nottinghamshire lost their unbeaten home record in this season's Friends Provident t20 with a 23-run defeat under the Duckworth-Lewis method at the hands of Leicestershire, but still secured a home quarter-final thanks to results elsewhere.
The Foxes overseas all-rounder Andrew McDonald hit an unbeaten 59 and claimed a career-best five for 13 as the visitors upset the North Group leaders to climb off the bottom of the table and keep alive their own hopes of qualifying for the last-eight.
The Australian's 44-ball innings included four fours and a six to cement the Leicestershire total of 145 for 5 on a slow wicket at Trent Bridge, with former Nottinghamshire batsman Will Jefferson contributing 33.
Despite some lusty blows from Steven Mullaney, McDonald's medium-pace destroyed the home batting line-up on his way to the best bowling figures in this year's competition.
Boundaries proved rare for the visitors with both openers falling early, although Jefferson pulled Ryan Sidebottom for six and hit left-arm spinner Graeme White for two successive fours, one with an orthodox sweep and the second a reverse.
McDonald hit Dirk Nannes for four and six in the 19th over to reach his 50 off 39 balls, adding another boundary in the final over as Leicestershire closed on what appeared to be a par total.
With rain threatening to fall throughout the match, Nottinghamshire did just enough to stay ahead of the required Duckworth-Lewis total early on, despite losing Ali Brown, Alex Hales and Matt Wood in the space of four overs.
But Samit Patel the injudiciously drove McDonald to deep cover and once the Australian removed his Victoria team-mate Hussey in his next over, Nottinghamshire never looked likely to overhaul their target.
The players went off once for rain before resuming, with the target revised to 141 off 19 overs, but McDonald carried on in the same vein to dismiss Chris Read, White and Sidebottom, with Darren Pattinson bowled by Nadeem Malik before more rain finished off the match.
Nevertheless, Nottinghamshire secured a home tie in the quarter-finals thanks to Lancashire failing to beat Northamptonshire.
