Critchley hits 80 as Falcons win

Matt Critchley struck an unbeaten 80 off just 45 balls as Derbyshire Falcons beat Leicestershire Foxes by 

Luis Reece also hit 51, his second half-century in as many innings, as Derbyshire registered their first win of the Vitality Blast season, despite Afghan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq taking 3-26 26 on his home debut for the Foxes.

The two Derbyshire all-rounders struck four sixes each as the Falcons posted the fifth highest total in Twenty20 matches. Gavin Griffths, who took four wickets against Lancashire the night before, added one more but conceded 26 in an over for figures of one for 49 from three.

Critchley then took two for 31 with his leg breaks and Netherlands pace bowler Logan Van Beek three for 37 as the Foxes were bowled out for 186 in 19 overs to lose by 23 runs, Rishi Patel top scoring with 35 off 20 balls.

After Derbyshire were asked to bat, Foxes fans were soon enjoying the sight of Naveen bamboozling batsmen with his heavily disguised slower balls, the 21-year-old dismissing debutant Harry Came and Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman in his first two overs.

Came – in for the injured Wayne Madsen – miscued to mid-on before Godleman, despite all his know-how, was left groping for another floaty delivery that bowled him.

Two of Reece’s sixes came in the Powerplay as the Falcons advanced to 52 for two, after which Leus du Plooy was soon caught behind off a wide ball from off-spinner Arron Lilley.

Reece, dropped on 50, had added only a single when a Griffiths yorker beat his attempted reverse sweep but if Leicestershire imagined they had made the decisive breakthrough they were mistaken as Critchley and Alex Hughes added 85 from 47 balls before Hughes holed out to long on for 38.

Naveen avenged a huge six from Fynn Hudson-Prentice by having him caught off a miscue next ball but could not stop Derbyshire recording their highest score against Leicestershire in this format.

After the Foxes lost Scott Steel first ball, Lilley boldly tried to keep the required rate in reach by smashing 29 from 20 balls but then found the fielder at long-on and being eight ahead on the Powerplay score was tempered for the Foxes as Josh Inglis was well caught at deep mid-wicket to the last ball of the sixth over.

Ackermann and Lewis Hill were dismissed in consecutive overs and though Patel and Ben Mike attempted to keep their side in theoretical contention, they too fell in consecutive overs, after which Critchley dismissed Naveen and Will Davis for ducks in the same over before Van Beek wrapped things up by having Griffiths caught at long-off.

Tickets

Tickets for Vitality Blast home games are on sale now, but they’re selling fast so don’t delay if you want to cheer on the Falcons in Derbyshire this summer.

Home Fixtures:
Birmingham Bears – Sunday 13 June; 2.30pm – SOLD OUT
Lancashire Lightning – Tuesday 15 June; 7pm – SOLD OUT
Northants Steelbacks – Thursday 17 June; 7pm
Leicestershire Foxes – Tuesday 22 June; 7pm
Notts Outlaws – Friday 25 June; 7pm – Currently off-sale
Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 2 July; 7pm
Yorkshire Vikings – Sunday 18 July; 2.30pm