Derbyshire Falcons beat Yorkshire Vikings by 77 runs at Emerald Headingley to make it four Vitality Blast wins in a row in the race for a quarter-final spot.
Derbyshire’s largest ever margin of victory in the format leaves the Falcons fifth in the Vitality Blast North Group on eight points.
Wayne Madsen was at his effervescent best in his fine innings of 66 from just 28 balls as Derbyshire posted a highly competitive 179-7 from their 17 overs after an earlier rain delay.
Wickets throughout the Yorkshire chase, including three each for Alex Hughes (3-12), Lockie Ferguson (3-21) and Hardus Viljoen (3-32) saw the hosts bowled out for 102 as the Falcons claimed back-to-back victories over the Vikings.
Getting underway at 7.30pm, with each innings reduced to 17 overs, Derbyshire lost Billy Godleman to the first ball of the match, bowled by David Willey.
Undeterred, Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz was promoted up the order and soon set about building a 66-run partnership with Calum MacLeod.
The Scotsman fell on 28, but Riaz powered on towards a career-best score alongside the fluent Madsen.
Predominantly looking to score on the leg side, Riaz made the most of the fielding restrictions and struck six fours and one six in his 42 off 30 deliveries.
He was out with the score 114-3 in the 12th, but with the platform set Madsen swept Azeem Rafiq for six and cut Willey for four as he raced to a third half-century of the campaign off just 22 balls.
With the Falcons 146-3 after 13 overs, young Jordan Thompson started a revival for Yorkshire with two wickets in an over to remove Viljoen (1) and Madsen to leave two new batsmen at the crease.
His last over went for just three, but late hitting from Hughes (15 not out) and Gary Wilson (14) saw Derbyshire add 33 in the final four overs and post 179-7.
Adam Lyth (21) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (8) came out swinging from ball one, knowing their side would have to strike at over 10 runs an over throughout their chase.
The pair added 23 in the first two overs, before Ferguson came into the attack to remove Kohler-Cadmore with his first delivery, caught behind by Wilson.
The New Zealand quick, who has been clocked at 95mph in the Vitality Blast, had Lyth in his second over and Derbyshire seized the initiative with Yorkshire 37-2.
The dangerous Kane Williamson (4) followed soon, well caught by MacLeod off Hughes, and the required run rate soon crept above 14 runs per over.
Willey struggled to get the bowlers away, but remained a constant threat and clubbed Hughes for six as Gary Ballance (13) became Ferguson’s third wicket.
Harry Brook (18) struck two sixes, but Viljoen recovered to have the 19-year-old caught behind by Wilson, at which point the Vikings collapsed from 91-5 to 102 all out.
Hughes and Viljoen each claimed two more wickets at the end of the innings as five wickets fell in three overs to give Derbyshire a 77-run win.
The victory leaves Wilson’s men tied on eight points alongside the Vikings and Notts Outlaws, who they face on Thursday at Trent Bridge.
Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons are back at home on Friday 3 August against Birmingham Bears. Purchase your tickets in advance and save from £4. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
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