Derbyshire v Yorkshire Vitality Blast

There are days in a cricket fan's life that live long in the memory.

I still recall Chesterfield 1969, when we beat Sussex against all the odds to reach the Gillette Cup Final. I recall it again when Mohammad Azharuddin hit an astonishing double century against Durham and also when I saw Ian Blackwell score a sizzling century for the second team, an early indicator of his talents.

There too when Colin Tunnicliffe took 17 off the last over against Surrey in 1977, to win a game that was lost. These memories have stayed with me vividly over the intervening period, often 'dipped into' on cold winter evenings when cricket seems a long way away.

Those who were at Chesterfield today witnessed a game and an over that will live in their memory forever. It was a performance that deserved a win, but it looked unlikely until Matt Critchley took strike against the Yorkshire stalwart and former England all-rounder, Tim Bresnan. Nineteen to win. Surely we couldn't do it?

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In five balls the young Derbyshire all-rounder completed a week he will never forget with an over that confirmed his precocious talent. As if we needed reminding of that after a week in which he played a brief cameo at Northampton, took ten wickets and scored a fifty in the four-day game here and then scored TWENTY-TWO off the final over here to beat Yaaarksheer. It was the joint highest number of runs scored in the final over of a successful T20 run chase and sealed an astonishing win, with a ball to spare.

Watching the video of that final over, I was astonished how 'in the zone' he was. There was no fist-pumping with Billy Godleman after each blow, Just a consciousness that more were required until, eventually, after he cleared the infield for the winning boundary, he took off on a route that looked like the start of a lap of honour. If it wasn't, it deserved to be.

I will be as happy as a sand boy in this coming winter when I see confirmation that Derbyshire has renewed and extended his contract, because the lad is touched by genius. Flawed at times, because he is young enough to be making mistakes, but what a talent he is - and what a player he will be when it all comes together consistently.

It wasn't a one-man show, of course, and for the second successive night we owe a huge debt to Billy Godleman. The two wins were straight out of the John Wright T20 formula book: bowl with discipline to limit the run chase, then ensure that someone bats through the innings to get you to the finishing line. Derbyshire wouldn't have won without Critchley today, but he will be the first to say that without the canny hand played by the four-day skipper, we wouldn't have been in the position to do so.

It all looked tight with rain stoppages and regular wickets, but there is a good, balanced look to this Derbyshire side. A third successive win has maintained an interest in the competition, especially if we can produce something special at fortress Headingley on Monday evening.

The bowlers were again excellent and I think it is apposite to acknowledge the work being done with Dominic Cork. The 'million dollar quartet'  all bowled steadily and to go for around and less than eight an over on a small ground like Chesterfield is a fine effort. Only six extras too, compared to the thirteen in our innings. By such margins are games won and lost.

Ravi Rampaul was the main man today, though and produced his best bowling figures in T20 in England with his 4-19 in four overs. Just like Viljoen, I have been critical of Ravi at times this season, but in recent weeks he has appeared to be back to his best. Maybe in four-day cricket his best days are behind him, but his variations in T20 make him a hard man to hit. He did so well today.

What a week that was. More to the point, what a day that was. We pulled Yorkshire back from a point where they looked like cutting loose to one where they were running out of batting. We bowled - again - professionally and we batted with enough nous to be within range.

Then the fabulous Mr Critchley cut loose and you know the rest.

It is a grand night to be a Derbyshire fan.

I'll doubtless still be buzzing tomorrow...