Pre-Match Pack: Northants Steelbacks

Derbyshire Falcons have named a 14-man squad for their Vitality Blast fixture against Northants Steelbacks at The Incora County Ground (tomorrow, 7pm).

Captain Shan Masood is the fifth-highest run-scorer in this year’s competition, with 366 runs at an average of 45.75 and three half-centuries. Wayne Madsen,  Luis Reece and Leus du Plooy each made crucial scores in the wins over Yorkshire Vikings and Birmingham Bears, with Masood anchoring the innings well in both fixtures.

George Scrimshaw (15) is also among the leading wicket-takers in the competition and has already surpassed his haul from last year. The tall quick has support from fellow seamers Hayden Kerr, Sam Conners and Alex Hughes, who have a combined 25 wickets between them.

Spinners Mark Watt and Mattie McKiernan have also taken a combined 21 wickets, with each boasting an economy rate below eight runs an over.

Derbyshire Squad: 

94. Shan Masood (c)
10. Luis Reece
4. Harry Came
76. Leus du Plooy
77. Wayne Madsen
29. Brooke Guest (wk)
21. Mattie McKiernan
65. Anuj Dal
18. Alex Hughes
15. Alex Thomson
50. Hayden Kerr
59. Sam Conners
51. Mark Watt
9. George Scrimshaw

The Opposition 

Northants Steelbacks are second in the North Group and will be looking to challenge for top spot once again, when they take on the Falcons on Tuesday night. 

Big-hitting Australia opener, Chris Lynn, has been in imperious form throughout the 2022 Vitality Blast, scoring 379 runs in just six innings, including two centuries and two half-centuries, while his strike-rate is 172.30.

With the ball, Tom Taylor and Ben Sanderson have each claimed 12 wickets, while New Zealander, and former Falcon, Jimmy Neesham, can add ten dismissals to his 144 runs so far.

Pre-Match Talk

Wayne Madsen believes Derbyshire’s performance against Birmingham Bears was their best under Mickey Arthur so far, ahead Tuesday’s crunch clash with Northants Steelbacks. 

Madsen scored an impressive 55 in a comprehensive win at Edgbaston, but the Club’s all-time leading T20 run-scorer was quick to praise the overall efforts of the team.

“That was probably the best we have played across all three facets of the game. We bowled brilliantly to restrict them to that sort of total and then did the job with the bat as well. We’re really chuffed with the way we played.

“Taking wickets was the crucial thing. We know that Birmingham are a dangerous batting line-up if you let them get going, but we kept taking wickets and took some great catches which meant they had to keep consolidating and ended up with a total that was under par.”

Buy Match Tickets

Tickets are still on sale for Derbyshire Falcons’ Vitality Blast fixture against Northants Steelbacks, with supporters urged to buy in advance to get the best possible price and avoid queues.

Led by internationally renowned Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, and captain, Shan Masood, the Falcons are aiming for a second Finals Day appearance in four years.

Tickets are selling fast, so buy now to avoid disappointment and cheer on the Falcons this summer!

How to follow

Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast fixture against Northants Steelbacks will be covered live on the Club website, through our improved Match Centre, delivered in partnership with Purpose Media.

Updates will also be provides via our social media channels, so make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, so you never miss a moment of the action.

Vitality Blast 2022 – Tickets on sale now!

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