ALEX Hales sees the Royal London One Day Cup as the perfect way to further his England ambitions.
Steven Mullaney probably does not, but both played leading roles as Notts Outlaws made a successful start in their defence of the trophy with a 29-run win against Sussex Sharks at Horsham.
Hales is still yet to play a One Day International, but that must only be a matter of time as his 116 from 115 balls further highlighted a case that will be impossible to ignore at this rate.
Mullaney's chances of joining Hales on the plane to Australia for the World Cup this winter are more limited, but he eclipsed Hales by being the pick of the bowlers with four for 33 after blasting 40 runs off 20 balls at a key time.
Hales scored his fifth one day century for the Outlaws as they made 312 for eight at Horhsam.
Sussex started well but they could not keep up with the run-rate as they closed on 283 for eight from their 50 overs.
Hales and Michael Lumb laid the perfect foundation for Notts with an opening stand of 139.
Lumb reached his second 50 of the season from 58 balls with the Outlaws 100 coming in the 21st over.
Hales was playing a responsible innings to go to his half century from 73 balls.
Lumb looked well set to make a century but he fell for 77 as Will Beer got the best of him.
The Notts man charged the spinner but was bowled when he would have been stumped having missed the ball.
That was the cue for Hales to accelerate. He took 16 off a Beer over to move to 71.
Beer was not to be deterred though as he switched ends and promptly bowled James Taylor for 13 – 187 for two in the 34th over.
Hales pressed on to his hundred despite a scare when he was dropped on the boundary by Matt Machan on 88. His century came off 107 balls but before that he lost two more partners.
Samit Patel could only make eight as he was well caught on the boundary by Machan and then the in-form Riki Wessels was superbly run out by Beer for a duck.
Notts had lost their way somewhat in the powerplay, which yielded 27 runs for two wickets.
They were really on the slide when Hales was caught on the long off boundary by Lewis Hatchett off Piolet to make it 234 for five.
James Franklin was hoping to back up his explosive hitting of Friday night against Yorkshire but he was tamely caught and bowled by Beer for eight.
Notts were in danger of falling short of 300 but three sixes from Mullaney swiftly got them back on track.
The loss of Ajmal Shahzad for nine brought Jake Ball to the crease and he promptly smashed a six off the last ball of the innings – the only one he faced.
Sussex's innings got off to a decent start as Luke Wells and Ed Joyce put on 66 for the first wicket.
Wells went for 23 when he was caught at backward point by Taylor for 23 as he chased a wide ball from Franklin.
Craig Cachopa looked aggrieved as he was caught behind for 22 off Mullaney to make it 99 for two.
At that point it was an even game but Notts turned the screw with pace off the ball from Mullaney and Patel.
They were right in control when Taylor brilliantly caught Joyce for 59 when he skied a pull off Patel and Notts skipper Taylor dived to take the ball inches off the ground as it dropped over his shoulder.
Sussex's other experienced hand, vice captain Chris Nash, was well poised on 26, but he was furious with himself as he chased a wide ball from Mullaney and was well caught in the covers by Franklin.
The 150 came up in the 33rd over, however wickets were tumbling. It was 156 for five as Hales took a good low catch to send Ben Brown (3) on his way, Mullaney taking his third wicket.
Machan and Steffan Piolet put on 55 for the sixth wicket but with the run-rate approaching 15 they had no choice but to take risks.
Machan paid the price when he was caught by Patel at extra cover for 43 off 40 balls.
Mullaney had a fourth wicket and it was 211 for six with eight overs left.
Piolet was not throwing the towel in as he clubbed Ball for six to go to 50. Ball responded by bowling Beer for 23 to end a partnership of 55.
Sussex needed 33 off the last over. They didn't get them. In fact Ball bowled Chris Liddle for two as Piolet finished unbeaten on 63.
