Notts Outlaws advanced to the final of the Barbados T20 competition with a 5-wicket semi final success over Yokshire Vikings at Kensington Oval.

Steven Mullaney took the batting honours with an undefeated 53 to guide Notts to their victory target with 7 balls to spare.

After winning the toss and batting, Yorkshire were restricted to 128-7 from their 20 overs and although the Notts innings stuttered in places, Mullaney ensured he would finish on the winning side with a well-paced half-century.

Looking forward to the evening’s final against Derbyshire, Mick Newell expressed satisfaction at the outcome.

“We restricted Yorkshire to a score that was manageable and thanks to Steven Mullaney we did achieve it,” he said.

“I thought he was excellent.”

Yorkshire had emerged victorious when the sides met at the semi final stage of last year’s competition, thanks to a century from Andrew Gale.

The Vikings skipper survived a huge and confident lbw appeal in the first over of the match but survived. His partner, Adam Lyth (2) wasn’t so fortunate however, being given out to one that kept a touch low from the fifth ball of Harry Gurney’s first over.

Richard Pyrah was sent in at three as a pinch-hitter and he took to his role with relish, hitting former team-mate Ajmal Shahzad for four boundaries in the second over of the innings.

Graeme White’s direct hit from cover had Pyrah (25) diving full-length to make his ground but it was a short reprieve as the batsman lost his leg stump trying to heave Jake Ball away.

The same bowler had a further success when Gale (7) chipped him to Taylor at midwicket to leave the score on 40-3 after the six power-play overs.

Sam Wood was introduced into the attack at the start of the eighth and took wickets with his first and fifth deliveries, on the way to a double-wicket maiden.

Adil Rashid (3) danced down the track and was easily stumped by Chris Read. Joe Sayers (0) was then bowled through the gate by one that turned sharply.

At 43-5 the Vikings needed a stand and it came as Phil Jaques (36) and Andrew Hodd (15) added a patient 46.

Hodd was then stumped off Mullaney, who then took a skier off his own bowling to send back the Australian.

Liam Plunkett (22 not out) and Will Rhodes (11 not out) took their side to 128-7.

The reply began disastrously as Alex Hales (0) holed out off Adam Lyth, from just the second ball of the innings.

Michael Lumb (6) was unfortunately run out, as Chris Read had been the previous evening, when bowler Ryan Sidebottom deflected a drive from Riki Wessels onto the stumps.

Wessels (14) and James Taylor (24) ensured Notts were ahead at the halfway stage and although Read (10) also fell to a run out Mullaney remained to calm supporters nerves.

Seventeen were required from two overs. In fact, just five balls were needed to reach the target – Mullaney (42 balls, 3x4, 1x6) hitting Moin Ashraf for consecutive fours to bring up his 50, then a single allowed Sam Wood (12 not out) to hit two more boundaries for the win.