Batty bowls Royals into runners-up spot

Anything other than victory for leaders Glamorgan Dragons in their clash with Kent Spitfires would have ensured the title race went down to the wire, but the Welshmen pulled off a thrilling four-run win to secure the title.

Royals off-spinner Batty took four for 36 as Notts slumped to 170 all out with more than four overs to spare after the Royals had posted a commanding 251 for six.

Only five Outlaws batsmen reached double figures as wickets fell at regular intervals, with skipper Jason Gallian top-scoring for the hosts with 47 from 64 balls. The Outlaws' demise began when Ben Smith's brilliant direct hit ran out Usman Afzaal (six) at the end of the fifth over.

Kabir Ali then accounted for Chris Read (five) - he nicked one to Graeme Hick at second slip - and Paul Johnson (four) - caught and bowled - and then Stuart Lampitt removed opener Darren Bicknell at the end of the 12th over, caught at backward square-leg by Smith for 22 with the score on 45 for four.

Bilal Shafayat and Gallian then put on 56 for the fifth wicket, but the former was stumped by keeper James Pipe off Batty for 24 with Will Smith (nine) next to go in identical fashion. Two more runs were added before Gallian was snapped up at backward point by Matt Mason off Hick to leave the Outlaws on 125 for seven and from there on in the home side fell away.

Steve Randall (25) sent one straight back to Batty for a caught and bowled, David Lucas (eight) edged behind to Pipe off Batty and Mason wrapped it up by bowling Nadeem Malik for 11.

The Royals' top order had earlier laid a solid platform for Ben Smith (61) and then David Leatherdale (66) to build on, despite a fine five-wicket first-class debut for Nottinghamshire's Charles Shreck.

Shreck, who took the Royals' first five wickets, returned an eye-catching five for 19 earlier in the summer when Cornwall played Worcestershire in the C&G Trophy. On this occasion his nap-hand cost 35 runs off nine overs. But just about every Royals batsman played his part in a measured collective display.

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