Derbyshire Falcons made it back-to-back wins to start the new NatWest T20 Blast campaign with a three-run win over Yorkshire Vikings at a sold out Queen’s Park.
Following Derbyshire’s seven-wicket victory over reigning champions Northants Steelbacks on Friday, the Falcons put in another fine display to come out on top against local rivals Yorkshire in a thriller at Chesterfield.
The visitors got off to a flyer with the ball, but a quick-fire 57-run partnership between Matt Henry (28) and Wayne Madsen (42), as well as an unbeaten 30 from Daryn Smit helped Derbyshire to 165-8.
Imran Tahir returned figures of 3-18 from his four overs and there were two wickets for Hardus Viljoen as Derbyshire restricted the Vikings to 162-7. The Falcons ran out winners by three runs in a tense finale.
Billy Godleman and Ben Slater opened after Falcons captain Gary Wilson won the toss and decided to bat first. But Yorkshire got off to the perfect start as David Willey squared up Godleman and he was caught by Azim Rafiq for five.
The wickets continued to tumble as Slater (14), Wilson (10) and Luis Reece (9) were all gone after 8.3 overs, leaving Derbyshire at 48-4.
But Madsen and Matt Henry’s partnership changed the momentum of the game, as they began to quickly pile on the runs. Just after the midway point, Derbyshire hit 33 off two overs from the bowling of Azeem Rafiq (2-40) and Adil Rashid (1-36) and the partnership past 50.
Henry helped bring Derbyshire to 105 before he was caught for 28 from 10 balls, having hit one four and three sixes to help get the Falcons back on track.
Madsen reached 42 from 28 balls, hitting six fours in the process, before he was caught by Kohler-Cadmore from the bowling of Patterson (2-19), at this point Yorkshire back in control.
Alex Hughes joined Daryn Smit at the crease and hit a huge six before he was out for nine. Smit kept the runs flowing, hitting an important and unbeaten 30 from 20 balls batting alongside Matt Critchley (13), as Derbyshire closed 165-8, setting Yorkshire 166 to win.
Madsen (1-22) opened the bowling for the Falcons and started perfectly, removing Kohler-Cadmore’s middle stump with the second ball of a maiden over.
Adam Lyth (68) and David Willey (42) then swung the momentum back to the visitors as they piled on the runs, getting the Vikings past 50 in the seventh over.
But their partnership was ended as Willey was caught by Gary Wilson from the bowling of Tahir for 42 before Viljoen (2-33) claimed a wicket in the next over as Henry’s diving catch removed Shaun Marsh (2), Yorkshire 57-3.
Peter Handscomb (15) and Lyth recovered the innings, pushing past 100 after 14 overs and staying with the run rate as the opener reached his half-century.
But Tahir turned the game back in Derbyshire’s favour, claiming the wickets of Handscomb and Jack Leaning (4) to put Derbyshire back in command as Yorkshire required 42 from 24 balls.
Lyth continued to score quickly until the final ball of the 19th over, when he was caught well by Madsen on the boundary from the bowling of Viljoen.
This left the Vikings needing 18 runs from the final over to win. Bresnan struck a four and quickly it became four to win off the final ball. Henry kept his composure and Bresnan (24) struck the pacey delivery straight to Reece who held onto the catch, Yorkshire closing 162-7, four runs short of their target.
Custom Solar Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council
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