Alex Hales hit an unbeaten 71 as Nottinghamshire Outlaws prevailed in their winner-takes-all Vitality Blast tussle against Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley.

The defending champions had make heavy work of reaching the knockout stage, but former Chesham Grammar School student Hales notched his first half-century in this year’s tournament as Notts won by eight wickets.
Yorkshire, who would have qualified for the last eight themselves with a win, won the toss and elected to bat, but they suffered an early setback as Tom Kohler-Cadmore made just four before he was caught by Steven Mullaney off the bowling of Matthew Carter.

Adam Lyth put away bad balls on his way to 44 before Mullaney entered the attack and dismissed him with his first ball as a top edge was taken brilliantly by Tom Moores.

Kane Williamson knocked a quickfire 44 himself off 26 balls while captain David Willey top-scored with 51 as the Vikings set a chase of 164 from their 20 overs.

An inside edge from opener Riki Wessels (16) gave Yorkshire the breakthrough but Jake Libby and Hales showed their class at the crease to put the Outlaws on their way to victory.