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Falcons beaten by Foxes at Grace Road

Friday 8th July 2016
Written by Danny Painter

59 from Neil Broom and an explosive 45 from Jimmy Neesham were not enough for Derbyshire Falcons as they went down by nine wickets to Leicestershire Foxes in the NatWest T20 Blast at Grace Road.

The Falcons were asked to bat first, and set their hosts 159 to win after being bowled out for 158 with one delivery remaining. Broom’s 59 came from 39 balls, whilst Neesham faced just 23 deliveries for his 45.

The hosts made light work of the target with opening pair Mark Pettini and Mark Cosgrove smashing quick-fire half-centuries during a century opening stand that helped their side to victory within 16 overs.

After being put in to bat, Derbyshire lost opening pair Wes Durston (4) and Hamish Rutherford (13) within the first three overs, before Chesney Hughes came and went for six as Derbyshire made 48-3 from the powerplay thanks largely to Broom’s careful striking.

Together with Wayne Madsen, Broom added 54 for the fourth wicket, but Madsen was fourth man out for 14 to leave Derbyshire 96-4 when Neesham joined Broom.

The Kiwi pair struck well all around the wicket, with Broom bringing up his first half-century in the NatWest T20 Blast from 33 deliveries.

He added a further nine runs before he was unfortunately bowled via his mid-rift but the loss of his compatriot didn’t faze Neesham as he continued to score quickly.

By the time he was ninth man out, Neesham had blasted 45 from 23 balls, having struck seven fours including a ramp over the wicketkeeper’s head.

A number of lower-order batsmen fell cheaply for Derbyshire, and they were dismissed for 158 with one ball of their allotted 20 overs remaining.

In their pursuit of 159, Leicestershire got off to a superb start, with Pettini dominating the striking as the hosts made 57 without loss from the first six overs with Pettini on 40 not out off 24 balls.

The Foxes opening pair were clearly in the mood, and reached a century opening stand inside 9.4 overs, shortly after Pettini had brought up a half-century from 32 balls in an innings that featured nine fours.

His partner Cosgrove reached the same milestone shortly after with his fourth six, but fell to the next ball when he was caught and bowled by Durston. Leicestershire were 106-1 at the halfway stage and the game was over as a contest.

Cameron Delport joined Pettini and saw their side to a comfortable victory, reaching their target within 16 overs with Pettini finishing unbeaten on 71 and Delport on 38 not out.

Click HERE to view scorecard.

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