Essex v Derbyshire

In a game that again ebbed and flowed, Derbyshire won an excellent victory tonight over Essex.

The win means that everything now hinges on the last games in the group. If Lancashire beat Essex at Old Trafford, while we win on our trip to Wales to play Glamorgan, while at the same time improving our net run rate, we could yet qualify for the quarter finals.

The win came after a competent bowling performance, with all of the bowlers getting at least one wicket. Chris Rogers dropped a straightforward catch that allowed the Essex last pair to add a potentially crucial 29, but 193 always looked gettable.

Even when the skipper was adjudged lbw there appeared no cause for alarm, although the elevation of James Pipe in the order, ostensibly to raise the run rate, seemed strange as the keeper rarely scores runs when pushed up the order.

Greg Smith and Garry Park appeared to have restored the equilibrium before both and Wavell Hinds all went to Danish Kaneria in quick succession. This brought together the talented Mr Redfern and the consummate pro in Stuart Law (pictured)who took us to the brink of victory. Such a partnership must be worth its weight in gold to Redfern and although he was dismissed before the end, together with Graham Wagg, Law stayed until the end for an unbeaten 62 that must have given him a great deal of pleasure against his former employers.

So to Wednesday and a big game (or couple of games). It would be nice if Lancashire could do us a favour and also beat Essex, but we must do our bit and win in Wales, where a certain Mr Croft will doubtless be waiting for us...

More on that tomorrow, but for tonight - well done lads. Essex are a good one day side and we beat them on their own patch!