Derbyshire v Lancashire T20

Derbyshire 188-8 (Masood 75, Madsen 70)

Lancashire 183-5 (Croft 47, Wells 42, David 42*)

Derbyshire won by 5 runs

How quite extraordinary that game was!

I will be honest, there were few points in that game, after the partnership between Madsen and Masood was broken, where I felt we were in the box seat. Indeed, when Hayden Kerr was out with the score just 51 in the eighth over, I was struggling to see where a score was coming from.

Another eight overs and 99 runs later, I thought we were looking at 200, then it tailed off again. The two greats - and I use that term wisely and accurately, as posterity will deem them so - have taken batting to a level we haven't seen in 40 years. For those who weren't there, this was what watching Wright and Kirsten was like, though Masood is more fluent as a bat than John was. Madsen is currently imperious, however and his stroke play quite breathtaking, while Masood struck his county record fifth half century of the Blast and went past 1500 runs in all formats for the season. Astonishing. 

The score gave us something to bowl at, even though Jennings, Livingstone and Buttler were all missing from the visiting line up, as was Parkinson. Such is the depth of their talent, the batsmen still looked imposing and they began well. 

Salt and Wells led off in style, before the former was brilliantly caught by du Plooy, who is seemingly in a one-man catch of the season competition. This one was possibly better than his three last night and he followed with a more straightforward one to remove Wells, who slogged unnecessarily at Thomson when they were already cruising at ten an over.

In came Vilas to partner the always dangerous Croft but he was well caught at the second attempt by Guest, while Croft fell to a fine diving effort from Thomson off the bowling of Watt.

Slowly, the rate was climbing, but with the powerful David at the crease, 33 from the last four overs seemed a formality. McKiernan, Watt and Hughes had bowled with discipline, but Hayden Kerr was outstanding tonight. Four overs for just 24, in the context of this game, was a terrific effort and he gave away little.

So much so so that it came down to the last over, with the visitors still needing eleven. At this point, hats need doffed to captain Masood, as George Scrimshaw was asked to bowl it, despite his previous three having gone for 48. After a nightmare at Trent Bridge last night it was a huge show of faith by the captain.

Yet it was rewarded by a bowler who showed courage and got his lines right when it mattered. A single to David off the first ball was followed by two dot balls, then a top edged four leaving six from two. Jones, on strike seemed to expect a short ball, but one well pitched up saw him leg before, leaving Lamb needing six from the last.

A wild swish to a well-directed short ball outside off went through to Brooke Guest and Derbyshire sealed a momentous, unexpected victory. 

This was a triumph of a battling spirit, no little skill and bravery, from both a captain and a man whose confidence had to have been knocked. The fielding was excellent too, in a good team effort. 

Beat Durham in the last game and we will be through. Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, who play each other next Friday, could still pip us on net run rate, but neither can get more than our current sixteen points, and ours is currently the best run rate of the three sides. 

For a team that were pretty woeful at the format last year, that is quite something. 

They deserve every credit for their efforts tonight and through the competition.

I can only use that word again.

Amazing!