Haider Ali hits 74 in defeat

Haider Ali struck his first Vitality Blast half-century, but Derbyshire Falcons were defeated by Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley.

Wayne Madsen fell six runs short of becoming the first man in T20 history to score six successive fifties as his Derbyshire side were comfortably beaten at Headingley.

England’s Dawid Malan then starred in the chase with a superb 81 not out off 57 balls, Yorkshire winning with 10 balls to spare.

Madsen’s 44 off 26 in the Falcons 166 for eight batting first means he remains one of seven players worldwide to have scored five fifties in a row in this format. Jos Buttler, Virender Sehwag and David Warner are on the list.

Pakistan overseas opener Haider Ali’s belligerent 74 off 47 balls was the feature of Derbyshire’s innings having been inserted, and also his best score for the county in all cricket since arriving in April. But him and Madsen falling in quick succession meant the innings lost crucial momentum from 147 for two in the 17th over.

That paved the way for the Vikings to win their third successive North Group fixture, backing up last week’s successes over Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.

After three wickets for Ben Mike, Malan continued his excellent form with a third fifty in a row and could yet expand that aforementioned list of seven over the next week.

The left-hander shared 83 inside 10 overs for the first wicket with Adam Lyth, who made 31, and continued on with almost effortless class in hitting nine fours and three sixes.

Both teams came into this fixture having had identical seasons – winless in the Championship, having lost their first three games in the Blast before winning their last two last week.

Yorkshire started well, with Derbyshire limited to 19 for one after four overs, including Mike getting Luis Reece caught scooping.

But Ali counter-attacked with success and ensured 40 runs came off the next four overs, playing confidently on both sides of the wicket in excellent batting conditions.

Tom Wood fell to leg-spinner Jafer Chohan’s first ball in the ninth over – 59 for two – as he was brilliantly caught at a wide short third-man by a diving Will Luxton following a reverse sweep.

But that strike only served to bring Madsen to the crease.

Both Ali, who reached 50 off 35 balls, and Madsen struck the ball cleanly during an 88-run partnership inside nine overs, though the wind was quickly taken out of Derbyshire’s sails.

Madsen drilled David Wiese into the covers to end his shot at history – 147 for three in the 17th over – before Ali was smartly caught by Wiese off Mike in the next.

Mike also bowled a reverse sweeping Leus du Plooy before another three wickets fell in the last eight balls to give Yorkshire the definite advantage at halfway.

And it didn’t take long for the result to become obvious as Adam Lyth and Malan were quickly into their stride.

Malan pulled seamer Zak Chappell for six over square-leg and dominated the powerplay as 54 came from the first six overs.

Unlike Yorkshire, Derbyshire’s bowlers just couldn’t drag things back as they suffered defeat number four of the campaign.

Malan pulled his second six off George Scrimshaw’s pace early in the eight over, a vicious shot over midwicket to take him into the forties, and by the time he reached 50 off 35 balls in the 11th over, Yorkshire were 103 for one.

Lyth had been bowled slog-sweeping at Tom Wood’s off-spin before Luxton fell cheaply having miscued a pull at Scrimshaw to square-leg, leaving the score at 110 for two after 12.

Yorkshire’s target was reduced to 42 off the last five overs at 125 for two, and a couple of lusty blows from Namibian international all-rounder Wiese   ended Malan’s hopes of a sixth career T20 century but more importantly gave the hosts another two points.

Wiese actually fell for an entertaining 30 to Chappell, but it was nothing more than a consolatory wicket at 158 for three in the 18th over. That allowed Mike to clinch the win a straight six off Zaman Khan in the 19th over.

Vitality Blast 2023: Be Bold, Be Derbyshire

In 2023, every Derbyshire Falcons home T20 will be played on a Friday night, weekend or Bank Holiday, meaning it’s never been easier to follow the Falcons in the Vitality Blast.

2022 saw a Club-record number of T20 wins, coupled with the Best Domestic Spectator Experience to make the Falcons Vitality Blast campaign one of the best ever, and this year’s promises to be even bigger, with an enhanced food and drink range and added emphasis on accessibility.

Tickets are selling fast, with the clash with Yorkshire Vikings at Queen’s Park and the East Midlands Derby vs Notts Outlaws gaining high interest from supporters, so don’t delay if you want to experience Mickey Arthur’s Falcons live this summer!