Notts Outlaws failed to reach finals day in the Vitality Blast after losing a dramatic match on Friday night at Somerset who themselves progress to the last four.

Going into the game, the 2017 and 2020 winners were second favourites in Taunton, their hosts having headed the South Group with twelve wins from fourteen, Notts themselves only qualifying for the last eight with final group stage victory at the weekend against Leicestershire.

After winning the toss and batting first, the Outlaws lost the early wicket of Alex Hales for a duck whilst Munro (10) and Clarke (2) also went cheaply, the side 17/3 at one stage with a tough ask to make par score on this wicket, which is usually around 159.

Enter Samit Patel and Matthew Montgomery who put on 69 for the fourth wicket before Patel was bowled by Trent Rockets star and Somerset captain Lewis Gregory for 30 off 26 balls.

Montgomery was next, shortly after getting his half century (51) whilst Moores (8) didn’t last long, the seventh wicket stand of Mullaney and Imad Wasim helping Notts to 157, Mullaney not out on 18 whilst Wasim hit 31 off 15 balls.

In response Notts took the early wicket of Tom Banton and were two down for nine when Imad Wasim got his second wicket of the night bowling Kohler Cadmore for a duck. The hosts then put on 35 for the third wicket before Alex Hales ran out Smeed, Dickson then went off the bowling of Harrison but Gregory and Green saw the side through, the winning run coming with three balls to go.

In better news, East Midland based women’s side Blaze are still top of the table in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy. They convincingly beat Northern Diamonds in their fifty over game, bowlng out their opponents for 185 they lost just one wicket in response and reached target with 25 overs still to spare. Tammy Beaumont in sensational form with the bat hit an unbeaten 83 whilst Sarah Bryce was 5 not out.

The Blaze head the table with five wins from seven, nine points above the second and third placed teams.

*Main image @TrentBridge Notts were beaten at a packed house in Taunton.