Alfie Gleadall took a hat-trick as Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire in two Second XI Twenty20s at Hem Heath.
The young bowler took three wickets in as many deliveries on his way to figures of 4-18, while Leus du Plooy struck 82 as the hosts won by 30 runs in the opening match of the day.
Alex Hughes scored 61 in the final game of the afternoon at Hem Heath, which Derbyshire won by five wickets to do the double over Northamptonshire.
GAME ONE – Derbyshire won by 30 runs
Four wickets from Gleadall helped Derbyshire to a 30-run win over Northamptonshire in the first of back-to-back T20s at Hem Heath.
Gleadall took a hat-trick as the hosts secured victory, after du Plooy’s 82 had helped Derbyshire to a total of 189-6 from their 20 overs, with the visitors managing 159 in reply.
Having won the toss, Derbyshire elected to bat, but the opening pair of Billy Godleman (19) and Matt Critchley (8) were dismissed within the opening five overs.
With 191 runs to his name in this season’s Vitlaity Blast, du Plooy has been in fine form for the Falcons and he was in the runs once again at Hem Heath as he reached 50 in 27 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
Along with Tom Wood (44), du Plooy helped to put on 72 runs for the fourth wicket, as Derbyshire pushed on to make 189-6 in their innings, setting Northamptonshire a total of 190 to win.
Darren Stevens made the perfect start to the innings, dismissing Jesse Dinnie (0) and Saif Zaib (0) within the first over, while Mark Watt bowled Charlie Thurston (12) with less than 40 runs on the board.
Rob Newton top-scored for Northamptonshire with 39, before he was run out by Tom Lace in the 12th over with the visitors still needing 95 runs to win.
Gleadall’s hat-trick came in the 18th over, when he dismissed Tom Keast (11), Emilio Gay (33) and Rafique (0) with consecutive deliveries, before claiming the wicket of Blessing Muzarabani to confirm the win.
GAME TWO – Derbyshire won by five wickets
Hughes’ 61 helped Derbyshire to their second win over Northamptonshire of the day in the Second XI T20 at Hem Heath.
The all-rounder was at the crease for just 28 balls, but smashed four fours and six sixes as the hosts chased down the target of 16o with three overs to spare.
Tom Sole earlier top-scored for Northamptonshire with an unbeaten 33 as they managed a total of 159-6 from their 20 overs, with Derbyshire hunting their second win of the day.
For the second time, Derbyshire won the toss but this time opted to bowl first, with Thurston (8) and Zaib (11) being dismissed within the opening five overs.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice bowled Gay (22) and then caught Keast (6) off the bowling of Watt. Sole ended the innings on 33 not out as Northamptonshire ended their innings on 159-6.
Luis Reece (38) and Tom Lace (26) opened the batting for Derbyshire, and the pair put together a stand of 53 runs for the first wicket, before both were dismissed by Rafique.
After hitting the winning runs against Northants Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast last week, Hughes was once again a thorn in Northamptonshire’s side, reaching his half-century in just 26 balls, including four fours and five sixes.
Despite the wickets of Hughes (61) and Hudson-Prentice (20), Derbyshire reached the required total of 160 with three overs to spare to secure their second win of the day.
Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire host a hat-trick of Twenty20 matches at The Pattonair County Ground in August. Buy in advance to save. Call 01332 388 101 or buy online.
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