Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20

Leicestershire 124-9 (Reece 2-9, Critchley 2-18, Cosgrove 45)

Derbyshire 128-1 (Godleman 52*, Madsen 37*, Reece 29)

Derbyshire won by nine wickets


On a day of extraordinary Test match cricket in Leeds, when Ben Stokes entered the pantheon for as great an innings as you could wish to see, Derbyshire cemented their place in the top four of the Vitality Blast Northern Group with as professional a display as you could wish for.

It was the kind of performance we hoped for between the two teams at Derby, but the bowling was tighter and the batting showed the requisite common sense to simply work the ball around, seeing off the more dangerous spinners, rather than trying to hit them into the next county. There was no rush, the points mattered and we did the job.

I say 'we', it was once again Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen who saw us to a nine-wicket victory, just as they did against Northamptonshire on Friday night. Earlier the skipper and Luis Reece gave us the impetus by taking 24 from the third over of the innings, bowled by Dieter Klein. Thereafter, only the occasional bucolic blow was required, and a lengthy batting line-up sat in the pavilion and presumably enjoyed it all thoroughly.

It didn't look like that earlier, as Mark Cosgrove got his side off to a fine start and they had reached 67 in the eighth over when he was run out by Logan van Beek. It is always a possibility for him to go in that way, but he was one of three run outs in the innings. Added to fine ground fielding and a tight bowling display that saw only one wide and four leg byes conceded, the players can be proud of a performance of high discipline.

Special mention once again for tight spells by Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, who conceded only 44 runs from their collective ten overs, while Ravi Rampaul was equally parsimonious but for once failed to get in the wickets.

For Derbyshire, a win tomorrow at fortress Old Trafford, where a strong home side scored 218 to beat Worcestershire at New Road today. They have lost only one game so far, but a win would see us into the knock out stages, which would be an astonishing achievement. Birmingham's loss to Northamptonshire today sees them unable to qualify, while Yorkshire's end of game collapse at Trent Bridge ends their interest too. So there is now only Durham who could pip us, even if we lose tomorrow. While Northamptonshire could match our points, they cannot match our wins.

Remaining games:

Durham  - Birmingham (H) Nottinghamshire (A)

Derbyshire's superior net run rate may be a factor, of course.

For us, the task is clear. Win tomorrow, and it's done and dusted. If we lose, don't do so heavily, and protect that run rate.

Based on performances in the past two games, they have no reason to be afraid.

Go well, lads.

You are making us proud.