Derbyshire defeated at Headingley

Derbyshire’s six-match winning streak over Yorkshire Vikings in Vitality Blast cricket came to an abrupt end with a 99-run defeat at Headingley.

Billy Godleman’s out of sorts side struggled to get a foothold in the game and a commanding batting performance, followed by tight bowling from Yorkshire, meant the hosts ran out comfortable winners.

Electing to bat first, Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were quickly on the attack, lofting Derbyshire leg spinner Mattie McKiernan over the in-field and pulling Michael Cohen to the ropes.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice picked up the opening wicket, Kohler-Cadmore (16) caught at mid-wicket as he mistimed an attempted drive over mid-on, but the Vikings were in control on 63-1 at the end of the powerplay.

The highly-experienced duo of Lyth (61) and England captain Joe Root added 84 for the second wicket in under nine overs as Derbyshire tried different bowling combinations and changes of ends to disrupt the run rate.

The left-handed opener’s half-century came off 26 balls, while Root top-scored with 64 in an effortless innings which took the Vikings beyond 150 in the 16th over.

It was McKiernan, returning to the Derbyshire T20 side for the first time since 2017, who dismissed them both in his three over spell which went for 22 runs, the most economical return in a tough 20 overs for the Falcons bowlers.

Matt Critchley bowled tidily at times, but with little reward as Harry Brook made 23 and Will Fraine hit an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls to close the innings on 220-5.

Openers Luis Reece and Billy Godleman, the latter making his 200th appearance for Derbyshire in all forms, struggled for timing against Lyth’s off-spin in the first over, and the scoreboard pressure began to show immediately.

Reece (2) fell to Matthew Fisher at the start of the second over, before the wickets of Wayne Madsen – well-caught by Jordan Thompson diving to his left at backward point – and Godleman – lbw to Root – compounded Derbyshire’s problems.

The Falcons were cut adrift on 20-4 when Leus du Plooy (0) struck a well-timed drive straight to debutant George Hill at cover, a shot which typified Derbyshire’s innings.

Critchley showed glimpses of his talent in a battling 26, but a regular stream of wickets across the eight-man Vikings attack meant Derbyshire’s highest stand was 32 between Critchley and fellow all-rounder Hudson-Prentice (16).

Brooke Guest, making his first T20 appearance for the club, was unbeaten on 14 as the innings closed on 121-9, Derbyshire losing by 99 runs.

Dominic Cork’s Falcons have the chance to bounce back immediately against Lancashire tomorrow (6.35pm start) and the Twenty20 Head Coach expects his team to lift their performance against the Lightning.

“That was a completely disappointing performance from start to finish,” said Cork.

“I just thought we were completely off the boil, and that’s what I’ve said to the guys. It was almost like, ‘Let’s dip our toe and see how we go’.

“We always knew we have an inexperienced bowling attack – we had three debutants in T20 for us.

“Yorkshire are a good side. We’ve had the wood over them for the last few years, but today we weren’t at the races.

“Let’s hope it’s the same as last year in that a bad game kicks us into action for tomorrow night, which is a big game against Lancashire.”

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Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons return to Twenty20. Follow every game live on our match centre at derbyshireccc.com. Derbyshire Falcons: Underestimated No More.