A career-best 3-36 from Matt Critchley, and fifties from Wayne Madsen and Hamish Rutherford, helped Derbyshire keep their quarter-final hopes alive with a 29-run win over Worcestershire Rapids at The 3aaa County Ground.
Rutherford top scored with an impressive 64, while Madsen hit 50 not out, as Derbyshire posted 192-5 ofs their 20 overs.
Critchley then returned his best Twenty20 figures, while Shiv Thakor (2-29) and Ben Cotton (2-24) both claimed two apiece as the Rapids were dismissed for 163 in the 18th over.
Derbyshire lost the toss and were put into bat. Rutherford and Wes Durston (10) started well to add 32 for the first wicket before the captain was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at mid-off off Charlie Morris.
The hosts lost Neil Broom (5) shortly after, but Chesney Hughes steadied the ship with a brisk 27, which included three fours, before he fell to Ed Barnard (2-43) with Derbyshire 100-3 in the 12th over.
Up stepped Madsen to partner Rutherford as the pair took the Falcons to a sizeable total. Rutherford hit four fours and four sixes in his 38-ball knock.
Jimmy Neesham (22) and Shiv Thakor (8 not out) added some useful late runs, before Madsen reached his half-century off the final ball of the innings, off 30 balls, as Derbyshire set Worcestershire 193 to win.
The Derbyshire bowlers made a good start in reply reducing their visitors to 32-3 in the fifth over. Neesham (1-21), Cotton and Thakor with the early wickets.
Brett D’Oliveira (44), who was released from the England Lions this morning, was the main stay of the visitors’ innings. But wickets fell around him with Critchley removing dangerman Ross Whiteley (27) and then Ben Cox (17) and D’Oliveira in consecutive balls to put Derbyshire in control, with Worcestershire now at 142-7.
The last three Rapids wickets were taken in six balls between the 17th and 18th overs as the hosts sealed a 29-run win. The victory takes the Falcons into the final game against Durham Jets with hopes of securing a quarter-final place still alive.
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