Derbyshire v Worcestershire T20

Derbyshire 192-5 (Rutherford 64, Madsen 50 not)

Worcestershire 163 (D'Oliveira 44, Critchley 3-36, Cotton 2-24, Thakor 2-29)

Derbyshire won by 29 runs

Well done lads!

A stirring win tonight - batting first - saw us enter the last round of matches next week within touching distance of the knockout stage.

IF we beat Durham at the Riverside and Lancashire beat Warwickshire at Old Trafford, we will qualify. Alternatively, if we win and Northamptonshire beat Yorkshire at Wantage Road, it will come down to net run rate. The bottom line is we need to do our stuff and let the rest take care of itself.

They couldn't have done more tonight. It is important to take advantage of the Power play and we did, thanks to Hamish Rutherford's early assault. His innings was well-paced and quick enough to see us to 128 in the fourteenth over when he was out.

At that point we could have imploded and been rolled over for 160, but Wayne Madsen nursed the closing overs beautifully and reached fifty in the final over.  Jimmy Neesham played another brisk and important cameo, while Shiv Thakor hit one of the three balls he faced for six, to take us to an impressive 192.

It was good to see Ben Cotton back in the starting eleven in this competition and he led the attack to fulfil the other need of this format - taking early wickets. The first three were back in the pavilion before the end of the Powerplay, by which time Derbyshire were firm favourites and the visitors on the back foot.

There appeared a slight wobble when Ross Whiteley joined Brett D'Oliveira and they added 38 in three overs, but brave and inspired captaincy saw Wes Durston bring Matt Critchley on and he removed the former Derbyshire man. Two overs later, Matt took the scalps of D'Oliveira and Ben Cox in successive balls after taking a little stick and it was effectively all over. Three for 36 was another fine effort by the young leg spinner, as was the continued discipline by the side in the field, conceding only seven extras.

The whole attack did well. Neesham and Cotton did well at the top of the innings, Alex Hughes bowled his usual tight spell in the middle, while Wes nicked in with the wicket of his opposite number, Mitchell, one of three catches for Chesney Hughes.

It was a good effort and showed sound thought processes and execution. Too often we have over-reached and lost too many wickets up top, yet tonight the innings was well placed and the catches were held.

Whatever happens next week, supporters must realise there's been an improvement in our T20 disciplines this year. Graeme Welch and John Sadler did excellent work over the winter and the genial Sadler deserves every credit for inspiring some excellent cricket from his young side since he took over.

Nottinghamshire at Welbeck Colliery on Sunday, then Lancashire at Derby, both in the RLODC. Then that big game at the Riverside. It is a long time since we were in such a healthy position in the one-day game and I hope you all enjoy it, like I am.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and especially comments of those who were there tonight.

Come on you Falcons!