County cricket talking points: Royal London One-Day Cup is under way

Nottinghamshire top the Royal London One-Day Cup’s unimaginatively titled Group A with the only 100% record after the first week of fixtures.

A Somerset XI including Matt Renshaw, Steve Davies, James Hildreth, Peter Siddle and Jack Brooks were dispatched in fewer than 50 overs in a very disappointing spectacle for the Taunton faithful in Notts’s second match. Those easily acquired two points backed up a fine win in their season opener at home to Sussex.

The visitors’ six bowlers may have had fewer than 50 matches between them, but Notts were in a spot of bother at 164 for five with 14 overs left. Enter that most resourceful of young cricketers, Liam Patterson-White, who made 62 off 46 balls and ensured that Richie Benaud will be smiling somewhere as his side batted out their full allocation.

Chasing 291 for the win, Sussex’s hopes rested largely on the considerable shoulders of captain Cheteshwar Pujara, but he was caught for nine by, yes, that man Patterson-White. Notts could cruise home from there.

Leicestershire are tucked in behind the group leaders with two wins from three, the second owing much to Wiaan Mulder, one of the season’s standout players. The South African has represented his country in all three formats and he showed his class with an undefeated century, pushing out Middlesex’s target to 360 after Martin Andersson had conceded 33 from an 11-ball 48th over.

Without laying too much blame at the profligate all-rounder’s door, that proved more than twice the winning margin at Radlett, the visitors getting home by 15 after Mulder had picked up both openers en route to four for 47 in a tremendous match for him personally.

Lancashire top Group B on five points after a couple of wins and a washout. That didn’t