Derbyshire were able to get some important practice ahead of the 2019 Vitality Blast with back-to-back Second XI Twenty20s against Warwickshire at The Pattonair County Ground.
Wayne Madsen (52) and Alex Hughes (44) were among the runs, while Logan van Beek claimed three wickets with the ball as Derbyshire won the second match by seven wickets.
MATCH ONE – Warwickshire won by 25 runs.
44 from Hughes could not prevent Derrbyshire from defeat in the first Second XI Twenty20 of the day, as Warwickshire secured a 25-run win.
Having won the toss and electing to bat first, Warwickshire made a less than ideal start when they lost Alex Oxley (0) and Ed Pollock (20) in the opening five overs.
However, Derbyshire would have to wait almost ten overs for the next wicket to fall, as Ashton Agar smashed 84, while putting on half-century partnerships with Matt Lamb (45) and Alex Mellor (25 not out).
Agar finished the innings unbeaten, with Mark Watt and William Perera the Derbyshire bowlers to claim wickets in the match, while Lamb was run out by Connor Marshall as the visitors posted 181-3 from their 20 overs.
In response, Derbyshire started strongly as the opening pair of Tom Wood (24) and Matt Critchley (30) put on a half-century partnership in less than five overs before the former was bowled by George Garrett.
Hughes came to the crease and struck five fours in 35 balls on his way to 44 before being trapped lbw by Lamb, while Anuj Dal had made 35 when he was caught by Agar off the same bowler.
Derbyshire managed 156-7 in their 20 overs, meaning the the visitors secured a 25-run victory in the first match of the day.
MATCH TWO – Derbyshire won by seven wickets
A half-century from Wayne Madsen and three wickets from Logan van Beek helped Derbyshire to a seven-wicket victory in the second match of the day.
van Beek made the best possible start to the match, claiming the wickets of Pollock (0) and Oxley (0) in the first over of the match, while Agar (25) was bowled by Mark Watt in the fifth over.
Lamb top-scored with 41 before van Beek claimed his third wicket of the innings by bowling the Warwickshire man, while Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen all claimed wickets in the match.
Warwickshire set the hosts a total of 135 to win at The Pattonair County Ground, with captain Billy Godleman and Luis Reece opening the batting.
Reece (10) struck the first six of the innings before getting out in the second over, which brought Madsen to the crease with the score 16-1.
He and Godleman put on a scintillating partnership of 74 from just 30 balls, with Madsen bringing his half-century in 21 deliveries, before being caught by Agar off Lintott for 52.
The pair of du Plooy (32 not out) and Tom Lace (12 not out) saw Derbyshire home inside 13 overs, with the former smashing a huge six to confirm the win at The Pattonair County Ground.
Vitality Blast is back this month! Tickets for all seven home matches on sale now, including the big clash against Notts Outlaws on Friday 26 July. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
[twentyticket]
