England’s Moeen Ali struck a destructive 65 from 28 balls to lead Worcestershire Rapids to victory over Derbyshire Falcons in the NatWest T20 Blast at New Road.
Having chosen to bat first, Derbyshire managed to scored 136-7 from their 20 overs with Wes Durston top-scoring with 29 and Tom Poynton ending unbeaten on a quick-fire 27.
Ali spearheaded the Worcestershire chase but was ably assisted by Daryl Mitchell and Colin Munro who finished unbeaten on 33 and 22 respectively as the Rapids got to their target in the 13th over with eight wickets in hand.
Opening the batting on his Derbyshire debut, Hamish Rutherford hit successive twos in the first over before launching Jack Shantry for a straight six. Shantry, however, had his revenge with the next ball when Rutherford chipped him to mid-wicket for 10.
Rutherford’s replacement Chesney Hughes fell in the next over when he feathered Joe Leach through to Ben Cox behind the stumps without scoring.
Shiv Thakor came in at four for Derbyshire and got off the mark with a four from his first ball. In the next over he was run out by Leach for five and Derbyshire were 21-3 after three.
At the end of the powerplay, Derbyshire were 34-4 having lost Wayne Madsen without scoring to bring Scott Elstone to the crease. Elstone found two fours and a six over mid-wicket before he was caught in the deep off Ali for 21.
Wes Durston had been in since opening with Rutherford, but was out when Ali got one to turn and Derbyshire’s skipper was stumped by Cox for 29 from as many balls.
Alex Hughes played an enterprising innings for the Falcons, scoring a six and a four in his 22 from 18 balls but was caught on the boundary to give Ali his third wicket in his final NatWest T20 Blast match before linking up with the England Test squad.
Both Tom Poynton and Tom Knight added vital late runs to guide their side to a respectable total. The former finished unbeaten on 27, having scored a six and a four in the last, while Knight finished on 19 not out as the Falcons posted 136-7 from their 20 overs.
England all-rounder Ali opened the batting for the hosts in their reply and immediately set about chasing down the Falcons’ target. Alongside Pears captain Mitchell, Ali guided his side to 73 without loss after the powerplay.
Ali continued to power on until he holed out to Rutherford in the deep to be caught off Chesney Hughes’ first ball for 65 from just 28 balls.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore was in at three for Worcestershire and he started where Ali left off. He was out, however, when an Alex Hughes slower ball bowled for 19 from 10 balls with the score on 113-2 in the 11th over.
Mitchell was joined at the crease by Colin Munro who attacked the Derbyshire bowling to finish on 22 not out from just nine balls as Worcestershire reached 139-2 in the 13th over to win by eight wickets.
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Derbyshire are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action on Friday 26 June when they welcome Notts Outlaws to The 3aaa County Ground.
