Stellar knock reward for Taylor’s patience

BRENDAN Taylor’s match-winning display for Nottinghamshire against Somerset was one of the great one-day knocks – that’s according to Peter Moores.

Zimbabwe’s former ODI captain came in for special praise from the Notts head coach after he fired his side into a One-Day Cup semi-final showdown with Essex.

Taylor hit a superb 154 off 97 balls as the Outlaws, despite compiling their second-highest List A score in history – 429-9 – were made to scrap all the way to overcome Somerset at Taunton in the quarter-finals.

Taylor, who was struggling with a thumb injury during pre-season, has found first-team appearances hard to come by so far this summer but Moores was delighted to see the 31year-old come up with the goods.

“The tempo was excellent. Brendan’s innings was one of the great one-day knocks,” said the former England coach.

“He was the one guy that went on to 150 and that got us there in the end.”

Moores also praised Taylor, who has yet to feature in the County Championship this term, for patiently waiting for his chance to impress.

“It’s a great response from him. He was unlucky at the start of the season, so he had to wait when the lads played good cricket,” said the Outlaws chief.

“He’s certainly not whinged and moaned at any stage.You could see from his reaction to getting the hundred that he was hungry to play.

“I’m really pleased for him and I’m happy he took his chance. Players generally do get that opportunity.The question is whether they take it – he did.”

A whopping 834 runs were scored as Somerset valiantly made 405 in response to the imposing target and Taylor’s ton proved decisive in helping the Outlaws triumph by 24 runs.

They lost the toss but then set about constructing the highest List A score ever seen at Taunton, with opener Michael Lumb setting the tone by smashing 47 off 28 balls.

Riki Wessels blasted 81 as the inform Samit Patel enjoyed a knock of 66, and by the halfway stage, the visitors had hit 17 fours and nine sixes.

Coming in at four, Taylor proved to be the star of the show, and although he was almost run out on his way to the single that brought up a 69-ball ton, he would rack up 17 fours and five sixes before falling to Lewis Gregory late on.

The Outlaws closed on 429-9 and Somerset’s run-chase got off to a fine start – they were well-placed at 221-3 in the 24th over after a stand of 154 from Dean Elgar (91) and Peter Trego (66).

However, the pair’s dismissals changed the game’s momentum and although Jamie Overton’s 40 threatened to take things to the wire, the hosts were bowled out for 405.

“It was tense all the way through.We knew it was a good pitch and we knew we’d played really well,” added Moores.

“It’s tough setting the target but Riki Wessels and Michael Lumb read the pitch well and that set us up.”