Derbyshire Second XI were crowned Second XI One-Day Trophy champions after defeating Durham by 10 runs in a thrilling final at Emirates Durham ICG.
The Second XI had gone through the entire tournament unbeaten and secured a deserved victory after a fine all-round team performance, securing the county’s first Second XI Trophy since 1987.
Captain Wes Durston led from the front with 41 runs and two wickets, while there were also vital contributions from Chesney Hughes, who hit 69, and Tom Milnes who returned 3-43 as Derbyshire successfully defended 247 to win by 10 runs with the final wicket falling with the final ball of the chase.
Durston gave the Derbyshire innings early impetus by scoring 41 at better than a-run-a-ball alongside Ben Slater who anchored the scoring early on.
Durston and Slater put on 70 for the first wicket before the latter shared another half-century stand, this time with Hughes, who came to the crease at number three as the visitors brought up three-figures for one wicket.
Slater was second man out for 45 but Hughes continued to score well and hit two mammoth sixes over mid-wicket during his top-scoring stay of 69 before falling to leave Derbyshire on 196-4 with ten overs remaining.
A burst of three wickets whilst the score was on 210 swung the game into the favour of the hosts, but Matt Critchley added a useful 18 late on to boost the score to 247-8 at the end of Derbyshire’s 50 overs.
VICTORY! Harding caught off the last ball and #DCCC2nds have WON the Second XI Trophy! #DURvDER #P2bD
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) August 27, 2015
Durham opener Keaton Jennings got a start for his side but fell to Milnes’ (3-43) first ball of the match and similarly his replacement Graham Clark was out to Durston’s (2-37) first delivery of the afternoon.
The experienced Phil Mustard played an arduous innings to score 31 from 62 balls before succumbing lbw to the leg-spin of Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby graduate Critchley (2-51).
Calum Macleod threatened to give Durham a fighting chance but skied Tom Taylor (2-34) to Durston after the required run-rate had crept above six an over.
WJ Weighall added some threatening runs late on but when he was bowled by Milnes for 37, the game was as good as over.
It was left with Durham needing 16 off the last over with just one wicket in hand and the pressure told as Harding was caught off the last ball to give Milnes his third wicket and Derbyshire victory by 10 runs.
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Derbyshire are back in home action on Wednesday 9 September for the start of the LV= County Championship fixture versus Essex. Supporters can save £4 by purchasing tickets in advance.
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