So, after the glamour and excitement of Twenty20 could the Steelbacks take that swagger into a critical week of YB40 games, starting at Trent Bridge last Sunday?
We know the players have been indifferent with the 40 in recent seasons and lost a fair few but winning is a nice feeling and one that makes you try in every game to keep that feeling.
Often the YB40 is a fallback tournament this time of the year for those expectant teams that tumble out of the Twenty20 and a distraction to those still in it, possibly the case at Trent Bridge for the Steelbacks after another thumping defeat to a far superior and resourced team.
Notts, of course, lost a thrilling Twenty20 quarter-final by just one run and simply needed to win this game more, Alex Hales making amends for that Twenty20 fumble.
Northants looked set on a healthy 171 for three on a cracking track but sloping off at 205 for nine off the 40, Notts’ softball bowlers as good as their hard ball ones.
Everyone got a start with captain Alex Wakely making 59 but no one really went on quick and big to set a decent score on what was at least a 260 pitch.
Notts are packed full of England class and the Steelbacks simply don’t have a big enough squad or budget to be competitive and still rest a few against the top Test ground team budgets over the season.
As is normal straight after Twenty20, the teams are still in rapid run mode and the Notts openers creamed an arrogant 77-0 off the first few overs, Willey, Crook and Aza going around the park.
If the Twenty20 final is just a week away you don’t really want to pick up a strain if you are a quickie.
I understand why we played our best 11 here but were they all going to perform at their best with their minds on Saturday?
The slowies checked the run rate but the classy Hales guided them almost home with 75 before Hussey and Wessels secured the crushing six-wicket win with a rapid 30 partnership of 25 balls.
We were simply outplayed by an England-packed side as we were in the home reverse.
Another shocking Spriegel performance is the big concern for Saturday and if David Willey is an England Lion (well, it was always going to happen) then Spriegel should be in the England door mouse squad.
In all forms he has managed just three scores of over 20 from 27 innings. He is clearly not a championship player, averaging just six from eight innings and bowled just four overs so far but the one-day not much better.
He is supposed to be a useful and holds a record Twenty20 partnership for Surrey. But he accrued just 54 runs in 11 innings in the Twenty20 and took five wickets at 41?
YB40, where he has proven form, so far it’s 14 runs from eight innings and has spun just seven wickets at 39?
Why does Ripley keep picking him? Monty, we need you!
Keogh must be spitting feathers being left out.
The fans have given him more than enough time. Let’s hope he doesn’t sink us in the rain on Saturday. Step up son!
So on to Tuesday night and the Kent Spitfires.
It’s now a must-win game against the second-placed team in the group as the boys chase best second spot with Notts as group winners.
Again, it was a familiar team put out by Ripley as a championship cricket-sized crowd wandered in under the Wantage Road lights.
He trusts this unit and they want to play.
This time the bowlers were on form and once the quickies got the hook the slow ball bowlers turned it around big time (including Spriegel with 1-11!), 84 for two squeezed to 143 for seven as the used pitch invited some turn and grip.
188 of the 40 would prove not to be a problem for our powerful batting.
After another Sales failure saw Coetzer (90) and White (65) correct things and set up the win with that excellent 142 partnership, a record List A score against Kent at Northampton.
White has bought so much class and confidence to the team that if Trent doesn’t want to come next year this guy gets my vote.
He often takes us to the winning position and then ready to slog out for others to hit the winning runs, no problem.
The dew and the ending of the partnership did take it to the last over but the Steelbacks were always going to win and a shame Coetzer didn’t seal it with a hundred.
This was a big five-wicket win and securing one victory against the top two teams means two more against the bottom two teams of Holland and Warwickshire will take us to the semi-final.
And there is big money to be had now for Northants as the prize money has rocketed in recent years. If the Steelbacks win Twenty20 on Saturday they will get a massive £250,000 in total (with ECB performance payment included).
If they lose the final it’s a useful £85,000. The losing semi-finalist gets £25,000.
If we make the YB40 semi-finals it’s another £25,000 and runners-up in the Lord’s final receive £75,000.
You can double that if you win it. Throw in some TV and gate money and it’s all good.
If Copeland helps to secure promotion in LVC 2 a tidy £75,000 goes into the coffers and a juicy £135,000 if we get up and pip Lancashire for the title.
I can see the pound signs spinning in David Smith’s eyes like a fruit machine! What a difference from last year.