Mohammad Ali becomes Vitality Blast's third-highest wicket-taker after a three-wicket haul

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Ali, who is playing his debut Vitality Blast season for Nottinghamshire, is the league's joint-third-highest wicket-taker. 

Ali leads the charts

Ali has a total of 12 wickets in six games this season, the most by any Notts bowler and by a good margin. The next Notts contender on the list is Dillon Pennington with eight wickets.

The right-armer grabbed 3/24 against Derbyshire, which was crucial in his side's third victory on the bounce after beginning the season with three defeats.

Batting first, Nottinghamshire scripted a high 183-run total as George Munsey and Jack Haynes notched up their respective half-centuries. The contributions from the remaining batters weren't as generous, as barring Tom Moores, who scored 39 off 24 balls, and Freddie McCann, with 12 off four deliveries, none of the remaining batters got into double figures.

Ali grabbed quick wickets

The chase by Derbyshire was essentially upended after Ali's quick burst of wickets. He took his three scalps, each more important than the next, in five balls across two overs.

His first victim was Derbyshire's captain Aneurin Donald, who looked threatening up top. Ali had him caught behind for 20 off nine after he nicked the ball straight into the keeper's hands. This was followed by removing Caleb Jewell for 25 off 13, and Matthew Montgomery for a mere four off three balls in his next over.

Besides Ali, another Pakistan pacer had a decent time with the ball during this fixture as well. Young bowler Akif Javed grabbed two wickets, getting Notts' captain Joe Clarke as his first wicket and then sending Benny Howell packing for a duck.

ALSO READ:

Yorkshire lose their second in five games despite Hasan Ali's 4/18- IPL