Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire day 4

Nottinghamshire 324 and 279

Derbyshire 239 and 365-7 (Hudson-Prentice 91*, Godleman 86)

Derbyshire won by three wickets

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow...

At 234-6, with all the senior players gone, most Derbyshire supporters will have given up on winning this game. 131 still to get, a bloke with a sore leg the senior player left, after just twelve appearances, A debutant in next and a man making only his second appearance on his way to the wicket.

Who credited Fynn Hudson-Prentice, a man who lives in Nottingham, with playing such a superb unbeaten innings of 91? We knew he could bat, but this was an innings of genuine quality, innate common sense and superb game awareness. Credit to to Mattie McKiernan too, who lent crucial support in a stand of 65, before looking crestfallen on his dismissal, after a stand of 65.

Sixty-six to get and down to the debutants. Not to worry... 

Michael Cohen, previous career-best 23, came in on his 22nd birthday and started spanking the ball through the covers like a latter day Graeme Pollock. His first innings hadn't really suggested that was in there, but his unbeaten 30 was impressive, brave and bolshie. Typical of the new Derbyshire in many ways, standing toe to toe and slugging it out with one of the 'bigger' counties. No more Mr Nice Guy. The way they batted, there were likely fifties in Ben Aitchison and Sam Conners too...

Michael's off side play was a revelation, but when he tucked one off his legs from Jake Ball and they ran the winning two, even my non-cricket fan wife jumped off the couch in excitement with me. We wait four months for a game of cricket and then get one that we will remember for the rest of our days. 

There were records broken along the way, but I can only doff my cap to a team that just kept going and paced their massive run chase to perfection.

I am thrilled for all of them, but especially Fynn Hudson-Prentice. He came to Derbyshire after rejection at Sussex and has made himself a fixture in the side. His bowling was limited in this match with injury, his first innings hampered by the same. Today, he was simply sensational and has entered county legend, as they all have.

To win, I thought that one of our top four had to score big. Truth is that once Billy Godleman and Leus du Plooy had gone, much depended on Wayne Madsen, who can seldom have batted so long for so few. 43 in almost four hours tells that it was far from easy and his departure, closely followed by Harvey Hosein, looked like game over. 192-5, still 173 needed.

Maybe we could bat out time for the draw points? Matt Critchley again looked in good nick and seems to be playing much straighter, but for the second time in the match rather gave it away when he had done all the hard work. At 234-6, 131 needed from 35 overs, it seemed like a case of how long we could last.

Fynn, Mattie and Michael had other ideas. Tonight, gentlemen I salute you all. It was a genuine team effort, from first to last day. I could likely live another fifty years and not see another game of cricket that ended in such a special manner. Who said four-day cricket was boring?

I didn't have a lot of time for the home side's appealing as the game got tighter. Twice Hameed ran in from mid wicket to the umpire to appeal for leg before wicket. Next time, you can have your guard from there, son, if you can see so clearly...

But I digress. This was wonderful stuff. The only disappointment being that their supporters have taken to social media tonight to berate their side, rather than giving credit to a side that were better, over the piece.

By crikey, we'll enjoy tonight.

Special stuff, Derbyshire. Well done!