Derbyshire V Northamptonshire T20

Northamptonshire 100 (Keogh 28, Hughes 3-13, Hudson-Prentice 2-2, Rampaul 2-15)

Derbyshire 101-1 (Madsen 51*, Godleman 28*)

Well, that was stunning.

If we had played like that in every game this season we wouldn't have lost many, because the all round effort in the field was superb, the batting sensible.

After two overs, the second of which was awful from Logan van Beek, the visitors were 28-0. Yet from that start they were pegged back brilliantly, everything started by a double-wicket maiden from Fynn Hudson-Prentice, whose two overs went for only two runs. Cobb was brilliantly thrown out by Rampaul in the deep, with a direct hit, and the bowlers from that point turned the screw, superbly supported in the field.

I thought Alex Hughes bowled very cannily, varying his length and pace well and getting richly rewarded for his guile. Matt Critchley did well too, and I liked the way that he kept away from a driving length and made the batsmen largely play through point in a fine, controlled spell.

Mention also for Daryn Smit, who kept wicket in his usual exemplary style and was an obvious sage counsel for Billy Godleman. His encouragement of the bowlers was there throughout and he set the tone for a very impressive display in the field, one that could scarce have been bettered.

When Ravi Rampaul closed the innings with two wickets in an over for an all out hundred, there must have been disbelief around the ground and televisions of the country. This was a country mile from the last match and oozed professionalism.

Of course, that had to be replicated with the bat and the need for the runs to be made quickly was tempered by the knowledge that it was not the easiest of batting tracks.

Godleman and Reece led off and without assaying anything too ambitious gave a steady start. 28 had come by the end of the fifth over, the same amount that our visitors had made in two, but ten wickets were in hand. Reece launched Ashraf over mid wicket for six and Godleman thrashed Pretorius through cover for four to take the amount needed under 70.

A sharp caught and bowled chance was missed by Pretorius, though he may not have bowled another ball had he held the catch, off Godleman.

Keogh, who had batted best for the visitors, despite a nasty blow on the hand from van Beek, made the breakthrough when he had Reece leg before with his second ball. He bowled a very canny spell for his side and was the biggest danger.

Madsen joined his captain and conditions were far from easy. The batsmen contented themselves with sensibly milking the ones as the slow bowlers worked away at both ends.

With seven overs to go, 36 were needed. A Madsen reverse sweep brought four, a pull another, a flick over the keeper a third, a whip through leg a fourth. It was impetus at the right time and left 15 from the last five.

Easily accomplished, as Madsen reached a controlled and sensible fifty and scored the winning run in the eighteenth over.

It was sensible, professional cricket throughout. Had we only done that against Leicestershire - but we can put that right this weekend.

With Leicestershire beaten by Nottinghamshire tonight and Warwickshire by Worcestershire, we are back in fourth place, a point ahead of the Foxes.

Win that one on Sunday and we have one foot in the knock outs.

All things considered, that would be a terrific performance.