Samit Patel scored 75 as Notts Outlaws held their nerve to beat Durham by three runs at Trent Bridge.

Notts will qualify for the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 if they beat Warwickshire in their final group fixture on Saturday.

Durham needed 18 from the final over and five from the final ball but could only muster a single.

Alex Hales was ran out from the first ball of the game after Akhil Patel was adjudged not to have left his crease as Hales attempted a quick single.

Akhil went on to make 38 but was involved in a second run out incident involving Adam Voges (2).

A solid 30 from Scott Elstone and a rapid 28 from Steven Mullaney were useful but it was Samit Patel’s 75 and an unbeaten 66 from Chris Read that laid the foundations for victory.

Durham made an explosive start to their run chase but three wicket hauls from Darren Pattinson and Ryan Sidebottom stuttered their progress.