Axed Hales is back, but Patel stars in Notts win

ALEX HALES returned from his drug ban to hit 36 in Nottinghamshire’s scintillating one-wicket win over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. A week after being axed from England’s World Cup squad for his latest off-field misdemeanours, the 30-year-old (below) appeared to be anchoring the chase of 326 but chopped on. That passed the baton to Samit Patel, who struck a career-best 136 not out, including 14 off the first three balls of the final over from Ben Sanderson, to seal a home semi-final. Only a win would have been enough for Notts to claim the North group ahead of Worcestershire, who made light work of their chase of 352 to down Derbyshire. They won by four wickets with 10 balls left after Riki Wessels’ 62-ball 130, which included 11 sixes. Mark Wood was denied a first Durham appearance of the season after rain cut short their game with Yorkshire at Headingley before Wood could get on the field. The England management have been wary of overburdening the fast bowler but limiting him to two outings has meant he’s not bowled a competitive delivery since the T20 against West Indies on March 10. ‘Other lads are match fit, so I will have to catch up pretty quickly,’ Wood said ahead of joining up for England practice at the Oval for tomorrow’s opening ODI. ‘I was looking to be ready to go for the World Cup, not too early, and the last couple of games have been really frustrating. I wish I’d played more for Durham but that’s the way the cards fell. You can’t help the British weather, and let’s hope for a hotter summer with England.’ The persistent rain meant Durham missed out on one of the North group’s two play-off spots, but also helped avoid a potential Roses row after Yorkshire opted to rest five senior players, including ex-England duo Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance, as well as Kolpak bowler Duanne Olivier. Defeat for Yorkshire would have knocked out Lancashire, with an Old Trafford source questioning whether their rivals’ selection was ‘in the spirit of the competition’. An ECB directive states that counties ‘shall play a full-strength team in all matches’. Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has been named West Indies vice-captain for the World Cup. The 39-year-old previously captained the Windies in 90 of his 450 internationals.