Yorkshire V Derbyshire RLODC

Yorkshire 308-2 (Kohler Cadmore 79, Lyth 78, Willey 72* Brook 59*)

Derbyshire 223-3 (Godleman 107*, du Plooy 75)

Match tied

That was simply stunning.

Regardless of not managing two runs from the final delivery of the game, Derbyshire can be very proud of a thrilling run chase, one that earned them a share  of the points.

Few people gave us a chance of chasing down a target of 225 runs in 22 overs. Yet before the start of the innings, I posted on Twitter that we had five times exceeded 200 in T20 matches and it was possible 'if someone went berserk'.

Well, two people did. Billy Godleman smashed a third successive century with an unbeaten 107 from 62 balls, while Leus du Plooy hit a quite stunning 75 from just 37 deliveries.

It is already patently clear that the South African is a massive talent, some of his stroke play simply breathtaking. He seems to have so much time, the hallmark of a very good player. A six over extra cover was special, but a flip almost from the base of leg stump for six over fine leg was a shot that few could undertake.

After the early loss of Reece and Madsen, prospects were not good. Yet the two left handers kept the score ticking over on target with one of the best common sense run chases I have seen from a  Derbyshire side. Each over brought an early boundary, then they worked it around without taking further undue risks. They hit eleven sixes between them, in a stand that added 135 runs in just twelve overs.

The dismissal of du Plooy brought in Matt Critchley, who kept the score ticking over, without timing the ball as we know he can. At the other end his captain breezed to another century and somehow managed to scramble and bludgeon eighteen from the final over, bowled by David Willey.

It was outstanding from Godleman, who set the tone, reaching and clearing the boundary in an innings somewhat out of character, but all the better for that. He led by example and was again a stand out.

The first Derbyshire player to make three successive List A centuries. He can be proud of that, for sure.

There will be mixed feelings among Derbyshire supporters, of course. We got it down to three runs from two balls, but you have to give credit to the bowler, who came back well when it mattered, having just been hammered for four, then six. Eighteen off the last over was a tall order, thanks to an excellent penultimate one from the Yorkshire skipper.

Earlier, the Derbyshire bowlers were hit around the park and had the rain not intervened, we may well have been chasing 400. Home supporters will feel that gave them a better chance of winning, but we were left to chase over ten runs an over, which is a tall order in any level of the game.

And we nearly, so nearly did it

Whether you regard that as a point lost or one gained is down to your outlook. I see this point as huge for the county and if it can be reinforced by a win at Durham on Sunday, we are very much in the shake up for the next stage.

The bowling looks a little short, but Dave Houghton is certainly getting the best from his batsmen

Who would have considered this position before the tournament began?

What a game that was.

Get your comments in, folks!