Ben Cotton bowled a standout spell of 2-19 from four overs but it wasn’t enough to stop Derbyshire from tasting defeat against Yorkshire in the opening game of the NatWest T20 Blast 2015.
Hashim Amla, Chesney Hughes and Tom Poynton scored 29, 27 and 27 respectively after Derbyshire had been put into bat but the Falcons were bowled out for 128 thanks to a five-wicket haul on debut from Matthew Fisher.
There were two wickets for Cotton in Derbyshire’s defence and a wicket for Mark Footitt but the home side ran out winners by seven wickets when they reached their target in the 17th over.
Wes Durston and Amla opened the batting the Falcons and got off to a brisk start, scoring 12 from the first over, including a leg-side four apiece.
Skipper Durston fell in the fourth over when he was caught down at third man having scored eight in Derbyshire’ 27-1.
Chesney Hughes was in at three and batted well alongside the South Africa Captain. Hughes hit three fours and a six on his way to scoring 27 before becoming the first of five victims for 17-year-old Yorkshire debutant Fisher.
The third Derbyshire wicket of Amla for a quick 29 signalled a difficult period for the visitors which saw another four wickets fall for 11 runs inside four overs.
Poynton, playing in his first competitive fixture since 2013, counter-attacked for the visitors. He scored 27 from 18 balls, including two sixes and a four before succumbing to the exceptional seam-bowling of Fisher.
Derbyshire were eventually bowled out for 128 in the 18th over when Cotton was caught and bowled by Fisher after having hit the previous ball over mid-wicket for a six.
Ben Cotton got the Derbyshire defence off to the perfect start when he bowled Andrew Hodd for a golden duck with the second ball of Yorkshire’s reply.
Graeme Welch’s men did not have to wait too much longer for their second wicket as Alex Lees (23) slashed Mark Footitt down to third man where Amla took a simple catch.
The Falcons were, however, made to wait another nine overs before claiming their next wicket when Vikings skipper Andrew Gale (41) was caught behind by Poynton for Cotton’s second with the score on 100-3.
Footitt thought he too has his second in the next over when Chesney Hughes caught Johnny Bairstow in the deep but the left-armer’s delivery was called a no ball after the two umpires conferred.
Bairstow steadied himself thereafter and lead his side to victory by seven wickets, scoring an unbeaten 40 in the process.
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Derbyshire are back in NatWest T20 Blast action on Friday 22 May against Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road; 5.30pm start. The Falcons host their first home NatWest T20 Blast fixture on Friday 29 May (7pm start) against Lancashire Lightning at The 3aaa County Ground.
To buy your NatWest T20 Blast tickets, please call 0871 350 1870 or CLICK HERE.
