Madsen celebrates milestone as Falcons win at Headingley

Wayne Madsen’s unbeaten 39 off 21 balls saw Derbyshire to a nine-wicket victory over Yorkshire in his 400th appearance for the county as the Falcons chased 84 in an eight-over Vitality Blast fixture at Headingley.

Australian overseas all-rounder Hayden Kerr set Derbyshire on their way to a second North Group win in three games with two wickets in the first over of the match, which started at 8.35pm following rain, and the left-arm seamer was excellent in returning two for 18 from two overs as the Vikings were restricted to 83 for three.

Having been inserted, opener Dawid Malan’s 50 off 23 balls underpinned their innings. But the England left-hander’s second successive half-century was given little support, and that was key to a second defeat in four games.

Madsen, 38, is the 14th Derbyshire player to play 400 games across all formats. He came to the crease at 15 for one at the start of the third over, hit his first ball for four and top-scored.

He shared an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 69 with Shan Masood (32 not out) as victory was secured with three balls remaining.

Play was delayed by two hours and five minutes due to rain.

Derbyshire made the perfect start when Adam Lyth chipped the first ball of the match, from Kerr, to mid-off before Shadab Khan was caught behind trying to scoop five balls later as the score slipped to two for two.

But Yorkshire recovered to reach the end of the powerplay – 2.2 overs – at 21 for two, including Malan pulling Sam Conners into the Western Terrace for six.

Shortly afterwards, he pulled Kerr over midwicket for a flat six as the score moved to 36 for two in the fourth over.

Malan’s innings was more muscle than finesse, though he did cheekily ramp Scotland left-arm spinner Mark Watt for four as he closed in on a fifty off 22 balls.

However, Watt had him caught at deep midwicket next ball as the score fell to 65 for three in the seventh over.

It was not only the second time in as many games that Malan had fallen for exactly 50 – he did so in defeat against Leicestershire here on Sunday – but also the second time he had departed the ball after reaching his milestone.

Having been 55 for two after five overs, the Vikings would have hoped for more. But they only hit two fours and a six in the last three overs, and a four and a pulled six from Will Fraine came with the last two balls of the innings from George Scrimshaw.

Luis Reece was run out coming back for two to deep square-leg following a mix-up with opener Masood at the start of the third over – 15 for one.

But Madsen was quickly into gear, whipping his first ball for four against seamer Matthew Revis.

Pakistan left-hander Masood crashed Jordan Thompson for six over long-on to take his side to 44 for one after four overs and slog swept Adil Rashid over midwicket shortly afterwards.

However, this was milestone man Madsen’s night.

He sliced Haris Rauf for six over wide third and, with eight needed from the last over, reverse swept Adil Rashid for six with the final over’s first ball.

As the rain fell, Yorkshire announced the short-term overseas signing of West Indies seam bowling all-rounder Dominic Drakes for the next four Blast games, starting with Friday’s home game against Durham when New Zealand batter Finn Allen will also debut.

They will replace Pakistan duo Khan and Rauf, who return home for international commitments. Rauf has played his last game of the season, while Khan will return later in the competition.

Derbyshire are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they face Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford (3pm).

Vitality Blast 2022 – Tickets on sale now!

Tickets for all of Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast fixtures are on sale now.

After a dramatic episode in 2021, the East Midlands Derby against Notts Outlaws returns on Friday 3 June, while the Falcons will be aiming to extend their Vitality Blast winning streak at Queen’s Park to four matches, when they take on Yorkshire Vikings to close out the BRM Solicitors Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, on Saturday 18 June.