Wes Durston scored an unbeaten 77 from 63 balls, but David Willey’s brilliance inspired Northamptonshire to a six-wicket win in the NatWest T20 Blast.
Durston hit nine fours and one six in his 77 not out as he batted throughout the innings to help guide Derbyshire to 166-7. Scott Elstone added 37 off 25 balls while Tom Poynton hit some big blows at the death to add 16 off seven balls.
But David Willey, who was released from England’s ODI squad for this fixture, smashed 60 from just 27 balls to get the Northamptonshire chase off to a flyer as they reached 167-4 with 13 balls to spare to register their first win of the competition.
After winning the toss, the Falcons lost Dilshan without scoring, but Durston continued to play his shots as he attempted to lead his side’s recovery. Steven Crook, however, removed Chesney Hughes (5) and Wayne Madsen (0) in his first over to leave the visitors 38-3 at the end of the six powerplay overs.
Northants took pace off the ball with the spin options of Josh Cobb and Shahid Afridi in the middle overs, as Durston and Elstone developed a useful partnership.
Elstone played some expansive shots, including sweeping Afridi for a six over deep square-leg, before the bowler got his revenge as Elstone was caught by Cobb for 37 from 25 balls at the end of the 12th over.
Durston brought his half-century up from 41 balls in the following over, as the Captain set his sights on the final six overs after helping to stabilise the Falcons innings.
Shiv Thakor hit 15 off nine balls before he was run out by Willey, before Poynton hit Willey for consecutive sixes in the final over, scoring 16 from just seven deliveries. Durston remained unbeaten after 20 overs to end on 77 – the highest T20 score for Derbyshire versus Northants – as Derbyshire closed on 166-7.
Northants lost the big-hitting South Africa international Richard Levi in the first over of their reply, as he was caught by Madsen off the bowling of Thakor for just five.
Willey, however, was in imperious form with the bat as he hit Dilshan for three sixes in an over, before scoring consecutive fours off the bowling of Nathan Rimmington the following over.
Cobb was superbly caught in the deep by Elstone off the bowling of Wayne White for 11, but Willey continued his dominance and he reached his half-century from just 21 balls in the sixth over.
Tony Palladino was introduced into the attack in the eighth over and he removed Willey with his second delivery, caught in the deep by Madsen for a 27-ball 60. The damage was, however, done with Northamptonshire 96-3 at the halfway stage.
Pakistan all-rounder Afridi took over the hitting as the Steelbacks closed in on their victory target. Thakor, who returned figures of 2-20, finally removed Afridi for a quick-fire 34 with Godleman taking a good catch on the boundary to leave the hosts on 125-4.
Wakely and Crook were content to pick the gaps to accumulate the necessary runs and an unbroken stand of 42 was enough to see their side home with 13 balls to spare.
Click here to view the scorecard>>
Derbyshire are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action on Thursday 18 June when they welcome Leicestershire Foxes to The 3aaa County Ground.
[ticketbuttons]
