Derbyshire are set to play their second home game in a week as they welcome Leicestershire Foxes to The 3aaa County Ground in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
Heritage Officer, David Griffin, looks at the statistical background to the game.
This will be the 59th scheduled List A fixture between these two sides; Derbyshire having won 25 of the previous 58, with Leicestershire winning on 28 occasions, and five games ended by the weather and designated as ‘No Result’ or ‘Abandoned’.
These two sides first met at Grace Road, Leicester in August 1969 in the first season of what was initially known as The Players County League, with the hosts prevailing by six runs.
Four Derbyshire players have scored centuries against Leicestershire with the most recent being Wayne Madsen’s match-winning 105 in 2014 at Grace Road.
The other three century-makers were Australians – Dean Jones scoring 103 in 1996, Michael Di Venuto 108 in 2001, and Chris Rogers 111 not out in 2009.
Three Derbyshire bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings, including Mark Footitt who recorded 5-59 in the aforementioned win at Leicester in 2014.
Kevin Dean took 5-45 at Derby in 2005, but the best analysis belongs to Ian Buxton, who took a match-winning 5-19 at Grace Road in 1972 as Leicestershire were restricted to 117 all out in 40 overs in a John Player League game, Derbyshire winning by four wickets with three balls to spare.
The only two Derbyshire players to record a score in the nineties did so in consecutive seasons – 2016 (Neil Broom 90 at Derby) and 2017 (Alex Hughes 96 not out at Leicester).
Arguably the most dramatic of all List A games between these two counties was the 1998 NatWest Trophy semi-final at Leicester.
Derbyshire batted first in front of the BBC television cameras and a crowd in the ground estimated at almost 10,000 and made their highest-ever List A score against Leicestershire – 298-7, with captain Dominic Cork top-scoring with an unbeaten 61.
Leicestershire appeared to be cruising to victory at 243-3 with their overseas star, Phil Simmons on 90 not out.
It appeared unlikely that Derbyshire would win while Simmons was at the crease, so Cork brought himself back early and removed him with a fast, swinging yorker that crashed through the West Indian’s defence. The crowd erupted and Derbyshire closed the game out by just three runs, with Cork almost carried from the field by delighted Derbyshire supporters who mobbed him in front of the Pavilion.
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.
Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 25 May
Derbyshire vs Yorkshire Vikings – Wednesday 30 May
Derbyshire vs Lancashire Lightning – Sunday 3 June
