Billy Godleman and Matt Critchley both hit half-centuries as Derbyshire beat Northants Steelbacks by 53 runs in the Royal London One-Day Cup opener at The Pattonair County Ground.
Godleman hit his first half-century of the 2019 season, while Critchley’s score was his career-best List A performance as the hosts posted 268-6.
Alex Hughes claimed career-best figures in List A cricket with 4-44, while Logan van Beek also took 3-50 as Derbyshire bowled the Steelbacks out for 211.
Luis Reece fell without scoring in the first over after Derbyshire won the toss and decided to bat, but Godleman and Wayne Madsen accelerated the score to 34-1 after five overs.
Madsen looked strong with back-to-back boundaries off Jason Holder but fell in the following over for 23 and Alex Hughes (1) was also dismissed shortly after.
The wicket brought debutant Leus du Plooy to the crease to as the pair looked to keep the scoreboard ticking in the early part of the innings to take Derbyshire past 100 at the halfway stage.
The pair’s brought up the half-century partnership in quick succession, as both batsmen continued to frustrate the Steelbacks’ bowling attack.
Du Plooy (30) then fell shortly after to bring Tom Lace to the crease as the partnership came to an end on 54 runs, with the score 107-4.
Lace (21) was also patient to get himself in before he was caught on the boundary by Luke Procter after some short bowling by Blessing Muzarabani.
Godleman played a captain’s innings to lead by example as he passed his fifty off 87 balls, hitting four boundaries in the process.
Godleman was then bowled for 87 with the score on 221-6, which brought Hosein to the crease in the 45th over.
Critchley accelerated the run rate to bring up his fifty as Derbyshire closed the innings on 268-6.
Derbyshire then got off to a strong start in Northants’ reply to reduce the visitors to 37-4 after nine overs.
Logan van Beek took his first to remove Josh Cobb (3) before Ravi Rampaul got in on the act to dismiss Richard Levi for nine as Alex Hughes took a good catch at second slip.
Hughes then took another great catch in quick succession as Logan van Beek claimed his second wicket to remove Alex Wakely (9) before there was a mix-up in the middle, which saw Rob Newton run out for 14.
Adam Rossington and Jason Holder combined well to add 40 for the fifth wicket until Rossington (21) was bowled by Hughes in the all-rounder’s first over.
The 27-year-old then took two more in quick succession as Holder fell for 30 before he trapped Keogh lbw for 20.
Rampaul returned to take his third and remove Buck (2), before there was a late resistance from Luke Procter (50 not out) and Ben Sanderson (30) as the pair frustrated the Derbyshire bowlers with a 70-run partnership.
Van Beek then took his third before Hughes claimed his fourth to remove Blessing Muzarabani (18) as Derbyshire bowled out the visitors out for 215 to win by 53 runs.
Club Membership! Never miss a moment this summer with Club Membership. That’s all regular season home cricket for just £179. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
