As the Falcons prepare for their Vitality Blast semi-final against Essex Eagles, we take a look at one of the opposition’s key players: Ravi Bopara.
A former England international, Bopara has been in fine form throughout the Vitality Blast this year, scoring 228 runs at an average of 45.60 across nine innings.
With the ball, he has taken ten wickets at an average of 21.20, one of only four Essex bowlers to enter double-figures on their way to Finals Day.
During his career, Bopara has played in 329 Twenty20 matches, scoring 6,583 runs, with an average of 27.54 and 32 half-centuries to his name, while the all-rounder also has one T20 century.
Internationally, Bopara played the bulk of his cricket in ODIs, although he did feature in 38 T20s for England, scoring 711 runs at an average of 28.44, and taking 16 wickets at 24.18.
His best international bowling figures of 4-10 came in a T20 for England against West Indies at The Oval in 2011, as the hosts won by ten wickets.
Across his 120 ODI appearances, Bopara struck 14 half-centuries and one century, with his 2,695 runs coming at an average of 30.62, while he also claimed 40 wickets in the format.
Bopara will be part of the Essex Eagles squad that will be Derbyshire’s first-ever Finals Day opponents, as Dominic Cork’s side look to extend their winning run to five matches in the Vitality Blast.
The Falcons will meet Essex in the second semi-final of the day, beginning at 2.30pm at Edgbaston. Notts Outlaws and Worcestershire Rapids will also compete for a place in the Vitality Blast final.
Finals Day! Derbyshire reach their first Vitality Blast Finals Day on Saturday 21 September. They take on Essex Eagles in the second semi-final at Edgbaston. Good luck, lads!
