Statistical Preview: Vitality Blast

Derbyshire enter their 2020 Vitality Blast campaign hoping to reach the quarter final stages for the third time in four years, and at least emulate the achievement of 2019 in reaching Finals Day. Heritage Officer, David Griffin, previews the competition and looks at the statistical background to the tournament.

This summer sees the 18^th season of Twenty20 cricket in the UK and a reversion to the six-team Northern Group format which existed between 2003 and 2009, and will see Derbyshire play all the other sides in their group twice. Once more, Dominic Cork will be the Head Coach for this format of the game.

However, because of the continued use of The Incora County Ground as an international venue, all of these matches will be played outside of the county, including one match played at a neutral venue.

Derbyshire have played matches on neutral territory before; 6 Lord’s finals and a Refuge Assurance Cup final at Edgbaston, plus the semi-final against Essex at Edgbaston in 2019, but this will be their first domestic non-final or semi-final appearance on a neutral ground.

Derbyshire’s opening game is at The Fischer County Ground where they will take on Leicestershire Foxes hoping for a repeat of the comprehensive 9-wicket win there in 2019 when Billy Godleman’s half century took his side to a comfortable victory.

Three days later Derbyshire travel to Leeds where they have won their last three games against Yorkshire Vikings including the 55-run win in 2019 when Leus du Plooy made a 20-ball half century, equalling the county record for the fastest 50 in the shortest form of the game.

Derbyshire will remain in Leeds to face Lancashire Lightning in front of the television cameras. Emerald Headingley is the television hub for the North Group, hence the reason why Derbyshire will be playing this game on neutral territory. Last time out against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 2019, Derbyshire won by 11 runs thanks to half centuries from Godleman and Wayne Madsen and 3-19 from Ravi Rampaul.

Emirates Riverside is the next stop for Derbyshire who will be hoping for a change of fortune having not beaten Durham there since 2009.

Aigburth, Liverpool will be a new T20 venue for Derbyshire when they take on hosts Lancashire Lightning again ahead of the two sides’ four-day clash there two days later.

Derbyshire last played at Aigburth in 2001 when they were heavily beaten by Lancashire in a Benson and Hedges Cup game although 13 years earlier, Derbyshire prevailed in the same competition when an exhilarating partnership between John Morris and Michael Holding saw Derbyshire home. And in 2019, Derbyshire secured their quarter final spot in this competition with a superb win at Old Trafford.

After a mid-tournament break to play a Bob Willis Trophy game – also at Aigburth – Derbyshire resume with a second visit to Chester-le-Street before a clutch of matches in the East Midlands.

Trent Bridge will offer Derbyshire an opportunity to defeat the Notts Outlaws there for the first time since 2013 and two days later they make the short journey down the M1 to Leicester for the second of their games against the Foxes.

Then it’s back to Trent Bridge once more before concluding the group stage with a trip to Emerald Headingley to play Yorkshire Vikings.

Having demonstrated in recent seasons that Derbyshire can compete with most sides in this form of the game, they will doubtless be looking forward to a campaign which starts later than it ever has done, with Finals Day in early October.

Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons return to Twenty20 action with ten North Group matches in search of the knockout stages. Follow every game live on our match centre at derbyshireccc.com. Derbyshire Falcons: Underestimated No More.