Northamptonshire v Derbyshire Metrobank One Day Cup game one

Northamptonshire 235 (Gay 59, Bartlett 50, Zaib 42, Chappell 4-39, Patel 3-41, Moore 1-29, Reece 1-73)

Derbyshire 236-8 (Chappell 94*, Whiteley 65, Weatherall 4-50, Sanderson 2-32)

Derbyshire won by 2 wickets with eight balls to spare

Just at the point when Derbyshire's season looked set to disappear around the u-bend - and my inbox was starting to ping with messages and comments of increasing vitriol - Derbyshire found heroes in their new captain and a man who now has to be regarded as a genuine all-rounder. 

They did pretty well earlier on, dismissing Northamptonshire for 235. Zak Chappell bowled beautifully in taking 4-39, while Samit Patel took 3-41. Harry Moore bowled accurately and very well for figures of 1-29 that failed to flatter him, but the feeling persisted that the home side's score, aided by sloppy fielding, missed catches and 26 extras, was more than they should have got in conditions helpful for bowling. 

Gay, Bartlett and Zaib batted well and showed that it was possible to score runs on a good cricket wicket, if you had the technique and a little bit of luck to go with it. 

Derbyshire started well, but 26-0 became 45-5, which in turn became 79-7 as good bowling combined with some injudicious stroke play to destroy what had looked a lengthy batting order. 

Or had it? Whiteley, who had earlier captained the side with cool common sense, came in to play an innings of remarkable restraint, his eventual 65 taking 99 deliveries and with only six boundaries. It was workmanlike and professional, in the knowledge that there were only two wickets to follow. 

Chappell came in and with with a series of trademark blows, bludgeons and edges, went past his 50 and got his side back into the game. The partnership went past 100 and had reached 131 before the captain, eyeing the leg side boundary, holed out in the deep with only 26 needed from six overs. It was a shot that didn't have to be played, but he had got his side back into the game and deserves great credit for his efforts today. 

Harry Moore then joined Chappell and any fears that the uninitiated may have had over his batting ability were allayed with crisp footwork and pleasant shots. He gave his senior partner the strike and Chappell scored the winning runs with his 12th boundary, an edge to third man which left him unbeaten on 94. Batting at number nine...

It was a remarkable effort by Chappell, one that will doubtless bring warm feelings and memories in his dotage. Rightly so, because to all intents and purposes, this game had gone when he joined his captain at the crease. 

It is good to get off to a winning start, but that victory should not mask another batting display of considerable mediocrity. Such a recovery cannot happen all the time and the batting unit as a whole has to take on greater responsibility in the building of totals. I accept we are two batters light, but there is still enough talent in this side to be able to handle such a run chase. 

Middlesex are next, at Derby on Saturday. They were hammered by Worcestershire today and will be smarting to atone for that defeat. 

I would like to see Bin Naeem brought into the side and given his head. At seventeen and still with a year of school ahead of him, Moore looked like he belonged today. I have every confidence that his young Academy teammate will do exactly that, if he is given a run in the side. 

He should have been there today, after an excellent innings against Cheshire and he he should be given the opportunity as soon as possible. 

But to close, well done Derbyshire. Specifically, well done to Ross Whiteley, Harry Moore and especially Zak Chappell. 

You and we will remember this one for a long time to come.