Ben Slater hit an unbeaten 109 from 82 balls for Derbyshire, but the Falcons slipped to a narrow two-wicket defeat against Yorkshire Vikings in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
The opening batsman batted throughout Derbyshire’s innings and was at his fluent best to notch his fourth List A century for the Club as Derbyshire posted 189-6 from 24 overs.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit 81 and a late cameo from Matt Fisher with 24 from eight balls saw the visitors reach the 190 target with a ball to spare.
Ravi Rampaul took 5-48, whilst Duanne Olivier claimed 2-23 from his five overs but the Falcons fell to a narrow defeat in the rain-affected match at The 3aaa County Ground.
Derbyshire got off to a quick start after Yorkshire had won the toss and elected to bowl first, as Ben Slater hit 34 from 21 balls to take the Falcons to 52-0 after five overs.
Captain Billy Godleman supported Slater at the crease with a quick 21 from 20 balls before he was caught on the boundary by Tim Bresnan off the bowling of Adil Rashid.
Wayne Madsen made a quick-fire 20 from 15 balls before Bresnan dismissed him to leave the score at 102-2 after 13 overs. However, Slater continued his fine form, hitting Liam Plunkett for two boundaries in the 16th over to accelerate Derbyshire’s innings as they pushed on with seven overs left.
The opening batsman then went on to complete his 100 from 77 balls, hitting 12 boundaries on his way to his fourth List A century.
David Willey fought back for Yorkshire, dismissing Wilson (3), Critchley (0), Hughes (6) and Smit (2) to take his best figures of 4-47 for the White Rose, as Derbyshire set the visitors 190 to win.
Yorkshire also started quickly in their run-chase, as Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth both hit sixes to leave the score at 29-0 after three overs.
The Falcons responded well to the visitors’ quick start as Duanne Olivier, Rampaul and Critchley each took a wicket in a 20-ball period to reduce the White Roses to 73-3 after nine overs.
Kohler-Cadmore continued his good form for Yorkshire as the competition’s leading run scorer made his fourth fifty in five innings from 41 deliveries to take the score to 114-3 after 15 overs.
The visitors continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as Derbyshire claimed four wickets in three overs but Kohler-Cadmore kept the scoreboard ticking to take the visitors closer to victory.
Rampaul dismissed the Yorkshire opening batsman for 81 in the 23rd over as Matt Fisher came to the crease to hit four boundaries in eight balls as Derbyshire were narrowly beaten with a ball to spare.
The Falcons remain third in the Royal London One-Day Cup North Group on six points, with three games left to play.
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 Lancashire Lightning – Sunday 3 June
