Billy Godleman hit his maiden half-century of the campaign as Derbyshire Falcons beat Leicestershire Foxes by six wickets to make it successive wins in the Vitality Blast.
Two wickets each for Ravi Rampaul (2-32) and Wahab Riaz (2-26), as well as high class bowling from the economical Lockie Ferguson (0-21), helped restrict the hosts to 149-5 from their 20 overs.
A blistering 32 from Hardus Viljoen and the well-paced half-century from Godleman (57 not out) took Derbyshire to victory with seven balls to spare to cap a good team performance at The Fischer County Ground.
Attempting to pinch the first over of the Leicestershire innings, Derbyshire turned to Wayne Madsen and the move paid immediate dividends as the all-rounder had Neil Dexter lbw for 10.
Undeterred, Mark Cosgrove struck Madsen for a six in his second over in an effort to accelerate the run rate.
But his partner Cameron Delport (5) never got going and was out to Rampaul two balls after Leicestershire registered 38-1 from the powerplay.
Ferguson and Viljoen’s raw pace continued to trouble the hosts and the dangerous Ben Raine (6) was struck twice before eventually being caught by Madsen off Riaz.
Cosgrove batted nicely for his half-century and found a foil in Colin Ackermann (29 not out) with whom he could rotate the strike and build a defendable total.
That vital fourth-wicket stand was eventually ended by Rampaul, who bowled Cosgrove for 65, but new batsman Mohammad Nabi hit 18 off 10 balls and the hosts posted a competitive 149-5 to round off a final five overs which brought 45 runs.
The Foxes carried the momentum they earned in the latter part of their innings into the start of the Derbyshire chase as Calum MacLeod (0) was run out second ball and Madsen (13) was caught in the fifth.
Busy at the crease and happy to scoop the quicks, Anuj Dal (25) joined Godleman and the pair set about stabilising the innings and keeping on top of the rate.
The Falcons reached 45-2 at the end of the powerplay and after back-to-back fours from Godleman, Ackermann turned to spin and Callum Parkinson and Nabi bowled in tandem.
It was pace off that got the breakthrough for the hosts, as Dal misjudged a low delivery from Dexter and was bowled for 25 to end the 46-run stand.
Promoted up the order, Viljoen wasted little time in pulling Gavin Griffiths for two fours and crashing Nabi over mid-wicket for six.
The cavalier innings took Derbyshire ahead of the rate and that is where they stayed, even as Viljoen was eventually out for 32 from 16 balls, leaving Gary Wilson to be the aggressor.
A proven finisher, he hit four fours in his unbeaten 21, but it was the opener Godleman who hit the winning runs, closing on 57 not out off 46 deliveries in a fine knock which took Derbyshire to victory with seven balls to spare.
Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons host seven Twenty20 games this July and August. Purchase your tickets in advance and save from £4. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
[twentyticket]
