Yorkshire v Derbyshire Vitality Blast

Derbyshire 179-7 in 17 overs (Madsen 66, Riaz 42, MacLeod 28)

Yorkshire 102 all out (Hughes 3-12, Ferguson 3-21, Viljoen 3-32, Riaz 1-17)

Derbyshire won by 77 runs

THAT was magnificent.

Derbyshire stormed fortress Headingley, one of the chosen grounds for the 'future of English cricket' and didn't just beat division one Yorkshire for the second time in three days.

They slaughtered them. They outclassed, outfought and out thought Yorkshire from start to finish.

Yesterday I spent some time reading twelve pages of Yorkshire fans on the White Rose Forum, bemoaning their display at Chesterfield, with nary a positive word to be said about our lads. Tonight I hope that a Yorkshire fan or two come on here to praise our display and acknowledge that they were completely outclassed on their own turf, where they are acknowledged as tough to beat.

Despite the loss of Billy Godleman to the game's first ball (let's face it, he was due a failure) we threw in a curve ball with Wahab Riaz entering the fray at number three. He did extremely well in a pinch-hitting role and with Calum MacLeod ensured that we were ten an over from the Powerplay. He registered a personal best for T20 cricket tonight with his 42 and with his latest tight bowling display logged a fine all round match.

Then came Madsen and from his first ball Wayne looked in magnificent touch. He produced all of his extensive range of shots and each seemed better than the one that preceded it. 66 from 28 balls gave the middle of the innings the requisite 'oomph' and even the vocal locals must have offered grudging applause to a top effort from a wonderful batsman. I have seen some outstanding knocks from Wayne over the years but that was up there with the very best.

Sometimes an innings can tail off after bursting so spectacularly into life, but there were enough strokes of quality from Gary Wilson and Alex Hughes for Derbyshire to set the white rose in excess of ten an over to win the game. Psychologically that was a big ask, even for a side packed with internationals and as the innings drew to a close they looked ragged in the field.

John Wright and Dominic Cork must have been very pleased, though if they were to be at all critical will point to more dot balls than they might have wanted. To be critical of such a display is churlish however and ten an over takes some doing.

When Yorkshire's turn came to bat they never got close, and never looked like doing so.

Derbyshire were aggressive and mobile in the field. I thought Gary Wilson excellent behind the stumps and he held a fine catch from the bowling of Alex Hughes, standing up. In addition, he marshalled his bowling resources very well and can be rightly proud of his side.

Riaz set a standard and it was good to see his positivity in the field and willingness to have words with bowlers and captain alike. He has been an excellent recruit this summer and without doubt has given very good value for money. Replacing him for the closing four games is now crucial, but someone will have big shoes to step into.

Then there's Lockie Ferguson. Game after game he comes on and takes early wickets, with no opponent so far getting to grips with his pace and variations. He is a huge asset to the side and, with Riaz, makes up what I think is our best overseas pairing in T20 cricket. Each has made crucial contributions and delivered 'go to' performances that a captain needs from his overseas stars,

Hardus Viljoen? He looks a world apart from the bowler who could barely land it on the cut strip at Durham. He looks smooth as he runs in and combines fast, in at the body bowling with yorkers. It was another excellent effort from the big man, and he seems to be enjoying his cricket too, which helps. His demolition of the stumps for the last two wickets pretty much symbolised the match, a hapless batsman attempting to 'ramp' him and losing middle peg summing it up for the hosts.

But again a star turn was Alex Hughes. I think that opponents look at Derbyshire, see four international pace bowlers and think they will target bowler five. It is a big mistake, because the work that Alex did on his bowling over the winter is evident with every match. The slower, looping delivery that dismissed Kane Williamson (aided by a terrific catch by MacLeod) was the match winner, but to bowl his three overs for just twelve in a seventeen-over match is quite special. He fully deserved his three wickets and is hugely important in this format.

Four times running we have beaten Yorkshire in the T20. They have only lost three home games since 2016 and two of them have been to us. We now have four straight wins in the competition and five running in all cricket. We are fifth in the strong northern group and in this form need fear no one for the remaining games. It was another match where people queued up to make vital contributions and one where they all, whether in the field, with bat or ball did so.

It looks a different side to the unbalanced one that lost four straight matches at the start and the confidence running through the side was evident tonight. Riaz, Ferguson and Viljoen seem to be feeding off one another and although it wasn't Rampaul's night tonight, there will be no one fancying scoring quickly off that attack. There is a swagger about them that is good and healthy to see.

I have rarely felt prouder of Derbyshire than tonight. They were innovative and clinical with the bat, sharp and alert in the field, incisive and hostile with the ball.

We are very much in the mix and it is simply magnificent to watch. I just wish it had been on Sky.

Thank you, gentlemen. You were outrageously good tonight.