Tom Poynton hit 35 not out, including 16 off four balls in the final over, to help Derbyshire to a thrilling Twenty20 victory over Leicestershire to round off a successful Briggs of Burton Pre-Season Tour.
Poynton hit three fours and two sixes in his 18-ball innings to take the Falcons past their target of 137, having earlier restricted their opponents to 136-8 with Shiv Thakor (3-24) taking three wickets against his former county.
In their reply, Derbyshire had been left needing 48 runs for victory from little over four overs when Poynton came to the crease. With help from Tom Taylor (10 not out), Poynton was able to get his side over the line to maintain the Falcons’ perfect record and make it four wins from four in Abu Dhabi.
Derbyshire made early inroads into the Leicestershire line-up after choosing to field first, with Wayne Madsen running out opener Angus Robson, before opening bowlers Rob Hemmings and Taylor picked up one wicket apiece.
Thakor then turned the screw in the middle overs, taking three wickets in quick succession, including that of Foxes top-scorer Mark Pettini (52), to leave Leicestershire on 112-6 after 17 overs.
WATCH: @Thakor57 bowls Hill during today's T20 fixture vs Leicestershire in Abu Dhabi. #DCCC chasing 137 #DCCCinUAE https://t.co/cNHB7QEtCD
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) March 16, 2016
Andy Carter picked up his first wicket of the match – that of Wayne White – before fellow new signing Tom Milnes claimed the wicket of Zak Chappell as Leicestershire ended their innings on 136-8.
In reply, Cricket Derbyshire Academy, in partnership with the University of Derby graduate Hemmings batted at three for Derbyshire and scored three fours and a six in his 23.
Ben Slater and Alex Hughes added 16 and 17 respectively during an important partnership in the middle overs that helped steady the ship.
It was left to Poynton and Taylor to provide the late heroics for their side, taking the score from 111-8 in the 18th over when they came together, all the way up to 140-8 as the Falcons chased down their target with two wickets in hand and one ball to spare.
Click HERE to view scorecard.
The Derbyshire squad fly home from Abu Dhabi this evening and are expected to land in Manchester in the early hours of Thursday morning, before reporting back to Derby on Monday.
Derbyshire CCC Membership for 2016 is on sale. Purchase online at derbyshireccc.com, in person at The 3aaa County Ground or by calling 0871 350 1870.
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