Derbyshire continue their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign on the road with a trip to Blackfinch New Road in Worcester.
Heritage Officer, David Griffin, looks at the statistical background to the game.
Derbyshire and Worcestershire have been scheduled to play each other on 58 occasions before this latest fixture, with Derbyshire winning 26, Worcestershire 28, with two complete abandonments, and two games ending in no result.
The sides last met on a hot day at New Road in 2016, when Derbyshire scored 298-3 to secure victory, with Hamish Rutherford making a superb 104 including seven sixes. Only Chris Adams and Mohammad Azharuddin have scored more sixes in an innings in this form of the game than Rutherford.
This was Derbyshire’s highest-ever score against Worcestershire, beating the 292-9 at Knypersley in 1985, a total which included 18 sixes.
Derbyshire’s first limited overs game against Worcestershire took place in June 1969 in the Gillette Cup; Derbyshire winning a low-scoring affair by six wickets on their way to that summer’s final at Lord’s.
In addition to Rutherford’s century, four other players recorded tons for Derbyshire; Barry Wood, Jon Moss, Michael Slater, and John Wright – who scored two.
Three players have taken five wickets in an innings in these fixtures – Colin Tunnicliffe (5-50) at Derby in 1981 including a hat-trick, Allan Warner (5-39) at Knypersley in 1985, and Eddie Barlow (5-24) at New Road in 1978.
The closest game between these two counties was the Benson and Hedges zonal group game at New Road in 1984 which ended with Derbyshire winning with the scores level having lost fewer wickets.
Batting first, Derbyshire made 257-7 with Alan Hill top-soring with 74 and John Morris adding 51, and Worcestershire lost nine wickets in equalling Derbyshire’s score. Basil D’Oliveira made 57 for the hosts and Colin Tunnicliffe’s 2-28 off 11 overs was crucial as two run-outs in the latter stages saw Derbyshire victorious in the late-evening gloom.
Royal London One-Day Cup is back at The 3aaa County Ground! Derbyshire will host four 50-over fixtures in May and June. Buy your match tickets in advance & save.
