Hales hits top form as Outlaws ease to victory over Durham

An unbeaten knock of 96 from Alex Hales guided Notts Outlaws to their second win of their Vitality Blast campaign, defeating Durham by 13 runs at the Emirates Riverside.

The former England opener notched 10 fours and four sixes in his 54-ball innings, falling just short of a century in the final over. Ben Duckett supported Hales well, scoring 52 as the Outlaws posted 195-5 from their 20 overs.

Durham made a rapid start in their reply, but once the opening stand between David BedinghamandGrahamClark wasbroken,theirchaseunravelled. Although Bedingham made 65, the home side fell shortandslumpedtotheirfirst defeat of the season.

After the defeat, Durham's Bedingham said: "I think Alex Hales played really well. The partnership between him and Duckett won them the game.

Welostwicketsincrucialspots and we didn't get that significant score.

"I think we needed someone in our line-up to get 80 or 90.Theirspinnersbowledwell and tied us down a little bit."

Notts opener Joe Clarke appeared in great touch once again at the crease, striking Matthew Potts for three straightboundaries.However, Potts responded by finding his outside edge and Ned Eckersleytookthecatchatthesecond

attempt.

Hales and Ben Duckett upped the ante in response, with the visitors reaching 622 at the end of the powerplay.

Haleswasthefirstto50,before Duckett followed one ball later. Hales then accelerated his innings, clearing the rope twice in one Liam Trevaskis over. Ben Raine broke the 126run stand for the third wicket, trapping Duckett in front for 52. Potts produced a piece of brilliance on the rope to dismissStevenMullaney,pushing the ball from past the boundarybackintothehandsofScott Borthwick.

Late striking from Hales almost guided him to a deserved hundred, but tight bowling from Raine denied the opener and prevented Notts from breaking past the 200-run mark. Bedingham and Clark began the Durham innings at a rapid rate, smashing the Outlaws opening bowlers around the ground. They reached their 50 partnership inside four overs.

MatthewCarterturnedthe game on its head by removing Raine and Cameron Bancroft inthespaceofthreedeliveries.

There would be no repeat of Eckersley’s heroics against Leicestershire as he fell to Samit Patel, allowing the visitors to take complete control.