You are in > manchester.com  > News > Nottinghamshire ease to win over Worcestershire in Pro 40

Cricket

Nottinghamshire ease to win over Worcestershire in Pro 40

15/07/2008

Half centuries from Adam Voges and Bilal Shafayat has guided the Nottinghamshire Outlaws to victory over Worcestershire Royals in the Pro 40.

Worcestershire batted first and reached 184/9 from their 40 overs, mainly thanks to a brilliant knock of 74 from young wicket-keeper Steven Davies.

The Outlaws were struggling on 60/4 in reply, but were saved by a classy partnership of 128 from Voges (64) and Shafayat (67).

Defending champions Worcestershire won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a good pitch at New Road.

But they got off to the worst possible start as they lost captain Vikram Solanki for only five after he was out lbw to Andre Adams.

The home side found themselves 40/3 after Darren Pattinson had Stephen Moore out for a duck and had Ben Smith out lbw for only six.

With all the problems England are having with the wicket-keeper position, Davies showed today he might be the long-term solution. The 22-year-old played beautifully for his 74, cracking 10 boundaries including a number of glorious cover-drives.

Davies was given good support by Graeme Hick, who scored 39, but the rest of the Royals batsmen failed as they finished on a below-par score.

Worcestershire would have had real hopes of winning the game when they reduced the Outlaws to 60/4, with the impressive Kabir Ali taking two early wickets. The former England bowler finished with figures of 2/14 from his eight overs.

But his efforts proved in vain as Voges and Shafayat stayed calm throughout and cruised to the victory target.