Derbyshire v Yorkshire T20 - county win their opener!

Yorkshire 164-8 (Thompson 50, Watt 4-19)

Derbyshire 166-5 in 19.1 (Godleman 70*, du Plooy 30)

Derbyshire won by five wickets

Five wins in a row now, for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in the T20. They are getting to be our rabbits, despite the protestations of one of their fans today, messaged to me by a friend, that 'Derbyshire are little more than a second class county'.

It doesn't say much for the white rose county, then. Of course, had their England players been available it might have been different, but you can only beat the eleven up against you and Derbyshire did a professional job today. Even it was somewhat anti-climactic, winning the game on five wides from David Willey....

I feared the worst when their top order set off like a train, Lyth smearing a six and a four from Darren Stevens opening balls for us, but Ravi Rampaul seems to have bowled beautifully  and followed it with a maiden over.

Then came Mark Watt, who became the first bowler to take four wickets on T20 debut for Derbyshire. His figures were magnificent, especially on such a small ground. There is nothing flashy or demonstrative about Mark, but he bowls a very tight line and lures batsmen to their doom with increasing frequency. Granted, Gary Ballance's ungainly attempt at a reverse sweep is not one he will look back on with any fondness.

Fair play also to Logan van Beek, who did especially well in the middle overs. I thought he might go around the park today, but 2-22  was an excellent effort and those two, with Rampaul, ensured that the chase was not going to be excessive. yet Thompson's fifty from 27 balls took the total to 164-8 and, with the ball spinning and the visiting attack built around slow bowlers, it was not going to be easy.

Hudson-Prentice opening with Godleman was a surprise, but after two quick boundaries he was dismissed. Then Reece, Madsen and du Plooy played little cameos, before Critchley, part of a powerful-looking middle order, came in to finish the job.

Through it all, Captain Godleman led from the front. Two years ago I questioned whether he should be a part of this format, but now he has made himself indispensable, and deserves immense credit for doing so. As he did in the same game last year, he batted through and always kept the good ship Derbyshire firmly on course. When there were a few dot balls he found the boundary and we never really looked in danger.

Only, perhaps, with 25 needed from 13 balls, but he and Critchley each took a six from consecutive balls, making it 13 from 11 and game over. Common sense only was needed at that stage and that was exactly what we got. In similar vein to Wilfred Rhodes and George Hirst of Yorkshire and England long ago, we pretty much got them in singles from there.

Greater challenges lie ahead, but played one, won one has a nice ring to it. So too the club coffers, after a capacity crowd and plenty of refreshment sales. With Tom Lace and Alex Hughes outside the eleven, the feel-good factor continues around Derbyshire sport. Wins for Cork and Cocu today, both undoubtedly pleased with their side's efforts.

Finally, what a pleasure to see Daryn Smit back in the side. To me his selection for this competition felt 'right' and, with plenty of standing up to do with this attack, there were no byes and a commendable eight extras only in the visiting innings.

Just what the doctor ordered!