After the Falcons began the Vitality Blast with a five-wicket victory over rivals Yorkshire, we take a look at some of the key moments from the win.
From Billy Godleman’s top-score, to Mark Watt’s brilliant debut bowling figures, there were plenty of pivotal points at Queen’s Park, here’s a round up of them.
1. Mark Watt’s 4-19
Mark Watt claimed the best figures by a Derbyshire bowler on T20 debut with the 4-19 that he took against Yorkshire at Queen’s Park.
In front of a sold-out Chesterfield crowd, Watt dismissed David Willey, Harry Brook, Gary Ballance and Nicholas Pooran to restrict the Vikings to a score of 164-8 in their 20 overs.
Ravi Rampaul (2-29) and Logan van Beek (2-22) also took wickets in the match, as the Falcons secured a big opening win in the Vitality Blast.
2. Billy Godleman smashes 70
Just as he did in last year’s clash at Queen’s Park, Billy Godleman top-scored to beat Yorkshire, this time hitting an unbeaten 70 to secure victory.
Coincidentally, the man at the crease with Godleman when the winnings runs came was the man who struck them the previous year: Matt Critchley.
Godleman kept the score ticking over and moved his side steadily towards the winning total, reaching his half-century in 37 balls, including three fours and three sixes.
He would hit one further maximum on his way to 70, with Critchley smashing 14 off just six deliveries to close in on the win, which came in the final over.
3. Ravi Rampaul’s maiden
After an expensive opening over, which saw Adam Lyth smash 16 off the opening six balls of the innings, the Falcons needed a swift response, and they got one in the form of Ravi Rampaul.
The former West Indies bowler didn’t concede a run from his first over of the tournament, as Yorkshire captain, Tom Kohler-Cadmore struggled to get his own innings going.
Rampaul followed that over up with a further dot ball, before having Adam Lyth caught behind in the fourth over, a big breakthrough for the Falcons.
4. du Plooy hits 30
Watt and Godleman rightly received the lion’s share of the plaudits for their performances against Yorkshire, but Leus du Plooy also played a crucial role in the win.
Making his T20 debut for Derbyshire, du Plooy scored 3o from 21 balls in a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Godleman, hitting two sixes.
He was eventually dismissed by Jordan Thompson, but his contribution to the innings had put the Falcons in a good position, with the big hitting of Critchley still to come.
5. The penultimate over
The Falcons needed 19 runs heading into the final two overs, with the game finely-poised with 12 balls remaining. However, with six balls to go, Derbyshire looked almost certain to win.
Matt Critchley smashed 13 of the 15 runs that were hit in the 19th over, beginning it with a huge six and ending it with a four off Thompson, meaning that just four runs were required from the final over to win the game.
Derbyshire now prepare for a trip to Edgbaston to face Birmingham Bears on Wednesday, before returning to The Pattonair County Ground to face East Midlands Rivals, Notts Outlaws on Friday 26 July, starting at 7pm.
Local Rivals Collide! The East Midlands Derby against Notts Outlaws resumes on Friday 26 July; 7pm start at The Pattonair County Ground. Tickets selling fast. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
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