Nottinghamshire triumphed over Yorkshire by 28 runs, ending the Vikings' Vitality Blast quarter-final aspirations in a must-win game at Headingley. Yorkshire, aiming to chase a daunting target of 210, ultimately fell short, finishing at 181 for 6.
Needing a victory and other results to go their way, Yorkshire faced their highest potential successful chase in Blast history but could not secure the win. Nottinghamshire's total of 209 for 9 was bolstered by Jack Haynes' rapid 50 off 21 balls, and notable contributions from T20 debutants Freddie McCann (48) and Sammy King (44). McCann, a 19-year-old opener, made a striking first-team debut for a team that had only secured four wins in 14 group games.
Ben Cliff’s career-best 4 for 31 for the Vikings was in vain as their seventh defeat sealed their fate. For Nottinghamshire, leg-spinner Calvin Harrison and seamer Luke Fletcher each took two wickets, while James Wharton top-scored for Yorkshire with 52 off 46 balls.
After choosing to bowl first, Yorkshire missed the presence of Dawid Malan due to a side strain but started well when Cliff bowled captain Joe Clarke in the second over. McCann and King then pushed forward fearlessly, adding 87 runs for the second wicket.
McCann struck consecutive sixes off Jordan Thompson in the fifth over, boosting the score to 46 for 1. King hit three sixes off Jafer Chohan’s leg-spin in the ninth over, bringing 22 runs off the over. However, both McCann and King were eventually caught trying to clear the boundary.
Haynes reached his fifty in 20 balls and hit back-to-back sixes off spinner Dan Moriarty as Nottinghamshire approached 200. Despite a late flurry of wickets, including two for Cliff in the last over, Yorkshire’s effort with the ball couldn't turn the tide.
In response, Yorkshire's chase faltered early, with Will Luxton, Adam Lyth, and captain Shan Masood all falling to miscues, leaving them at 31 for 3 in the fourth over. Fletcher took two wickets in successive balls, dismissing Lyth and Masood.
Wharton attempted to stabilise the innings, hitting Olly Stone for six but losing George Hill to Harrison, leaving Yorkshire at 88 for 4 after 10 overs. Wharton found a brief partner in Donovan Ferreira, who hit two sixes in his 22 before being caught off Harrison. At 105 for 5 in the 12th over, Yorkshire’s hopes were dwindling.
Wharton reached his fifty off 41 balls, but it was insufficient as Yorkshire missed a key opportunity. After he chipped Fazalhaq Farooqi to cover at 132 for 6 in the 16th over, the match meandered to a subdued end. Thompson's unbeaten 50 off 29 balls provided some consolation, but Fletcher comfortably defended 34 runs in the final over.
Nottinghamshire’s victory marks their fourth win in the group stage, while Yorkshire’s defeat confirms their exit from the competition, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities and what might have been.