Felix Austin
| cricket20
The Nottinghamshire Outlaws saw off the Sussex Sharks sealing a 13 run victory over the defending champs at Trent Bridge to seal a place in the Friends Provident t20 Finals Day at the Rose Bowl.
The Sharks reign as champions was ended by some undisciplined batting as they chased down a below par total of just 142 after the Outlaws suffered their own batting woes.
The Sharks got off to a positive start with Chris Nash (22) and Luke Wright enjoying an opening partnership of 35 before Wright was dismissed by Darren Pattinson.
Nash was joined at the crease by veteran Murray Gooodwin and they pair added another 29 runs before Nash was trapped LBW by Samit Patel.
Six balls later Michael Yardy (2) returned to the dug out after he was run out for the second game in a row by bad calling from Goodwin; to put the home side on top with the Sharks 67-3.
Ed Joyce (4) and Andy Hodd (17) offered little resistant for the Sharks and by the time Goodwin (28) was caught by Alex Hales in the 17th over the holders grip on the title had slipped through their hands.
Having been put into bat by the Sharks; the visitors got off to a positive start with Alex Hales (9) and Ali Brown (31) sharing an opening stand of 21 before the dangerous Hales was bowled by Yasir Arafat at the end of the second over.
With the early breakthrough the Sharks tried to increase the pressure but Brown and new partner Matt Wood attacked the bowlers smashing 31 runs during a 23 delivery partnership which was ended by Chad Keegan who bowled Brown.
Samit Patel (1) quickly followed and although Wood (36) and David Hussey (16) shared a 4th wicket partnership of 33 before the Sharks took control of the game by taking 3 wickets in the space of 3 overs to leave the home side 98-6.
With Wood and Hussey gone the Outlaws needed Chris Read to steady the ship and although he added 20 runs he quickly returned to the dug out after he was dismissed by Yasir Arafat.
With the Outlaws in trouble Ryan Sidebottom smashed 2 vital boundaries to help the home side reach 141-9.
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