Thoughts on T20 finals day

As the shadows lengthened in the T20 final tonight, Yorkshire came from nowhere to the brink of victory, then had it dashed from their hands by a good last couple of overs from Hampshire.

Their much vaunted batting lineup had served them well and David Miller showed his value by almost muscling them to the trophy. Miller is one of a number of South Africans who would in all likelihood be an asset to county cricket, not quite good enough yet to make their national side (how do you break into that batting side?) and perhaps resigned, like such fine players as Colin Ingram, Dean Elgar, Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis to being bit-part members of the squad.

He did a good job for Yorkshire tonight, but they paid the penalty for struggles between overs five and ten which left them needing ten an over over the second half of the innings, a target that proved just beyond them.

Earlier they had disposed of Sussex with relative ease, while Hampshire defied the odds and disposed of perennial bridesmaids Somerset. The latter have a clutch of talented players, but somehow there's not enough of them turn up on the big occasions, when they so often fall short. When one considers the players they have signed or been linked with over the past nine months the summer seems set to become another of under achievement. The risks of importing players specifically for the competition were also highlighted when Richard Levi fell cheaply. For me this is an argument against a season-long T20, as I cannot see many successful overseas imports when they fly in to play once a week then fly out again. Similarly, I can't see many big names keen to spend months in England for a weekly twenty overs match.

The final meant, of course, that two second division championship sides had disposed of their supposedly better rivals, though what the final will do for the morale of Hampshire and Yorkshire, our biggest rivals, is debatable. The former have no game this week, having played one more than others in the promotion shake-up, while Yorkshire face Gloucestershire at scenic Scarborough, where there will probably be a result if it stays dry.

Derbyshire's game against Essex is crucial and how we could do with winning this one to ease the pressure in the last two fixtures. It would be nice to get to the Hampshire game perhaps needing two bonus points to seal the title; nicer still to do so earlier.

I'll preview that one over the next couple of days.

In closing tonight, there's a lot of interest in players being released around the country, each seemingly arousing the interest of some Derbyshire fans. There's none of them have yet made me sit up and think "maybe" and what is most likely is that Chris Grant and Karl Krikken will play a waiting game at this stage.

There will be a number of players whose contracts allow them a get out clause if their team is not in the top flight. That will apply in both divisions, with a few signing deals for this summer on the basis of a promotion push. There will also be a few whose end of season appraisals may see them seeking pastures new and Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire can only sign a few of them. They are currently being linked with everyone and his kid brother and have the resources to be at the front of the queue for the bigger names.

Derbyshire will compete though and I am confident that if we seal promotion we will be better equipped for the top flight than some perhaps give credit for.

Let's get there before we start worrying about such things though.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.