Derbyshire Falcons RLODC at County Ground Derby

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After a run of five successive List A defeats stretching back to July last year Notts defeated Derbyshire by four wickets with four balls to spare at Derby today. 

An efficient bowling performance on a flat pitch set up a chase of 304. A welcome return to form from Alex Hales who top scored with 77 and half centuries from Wessels and Patel set up Notts' chase but a brief rain stoppage set Notts a revised target. Panic set in and they limped over the line despite needing only 49 off 10 overs struggling to time the ball as Godleman elected to take the pace off the ball. One criticism though would be that once again too many Notts batsman threw their wickets away when they were well set.

Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat on the same wicket as used on Sunday against Northants. They decided to use a second leg spinner Critchley who replaced seamer Tom Taylor, Notts were unchanged from the Tyke trouncing. Derby made untroubled progress on the slow and easy paced pitch where the bowlers had to pitch the ball up. The score was 56 for 0 after 10 overs and the 100 came up in the nineteenth over. Neither Godleman nor Slater gave a chance, Read rotated his bowlers with Root having four overs from the City End. 

Finally with the score on 148 in the 28th over Godleman went for a risky single off Pattinson but Wessels at mid wicket had plenty of time to aim and fire as Ben Slater was run out for 72 (94 balls with eight fours). Thakor was being cramped for room as Notts bowled on his leg stump he finally fell for the trap and hit Pattinson straight to Patel at extra cover. Thakor who scored 130 two days previously out for 17 off 19 balls, 172 for two. Wayne Madsen was dropped by Lumb at mid on off Patel but next over Godleman hit Patel straight down Pattinson’s throat on the deep mid wicket ropes, Patel's 200th List A wicket. The left hander gone for 90 off 97 balls with seven fours and one six, 209 for 3 in the 39th over. A change of pace from Pattinson saw Daryn Smit (21) chip to Broad at mid off, 265 for four off 46 overs. Wayne Madsen who would probably be the only Derby player who would make a composite team from the 22 players on show today played well got 66 off 55 balls as he added 38 off the last four overs with keeper Wilson (23 not out). Derby finished on 303 for four. As the balls got softer boundaries got harder to obtain on the slow pitch with long boundaries. Broad was the pick of Notts attack (10 overs for 45) dropping his pace and concentrating on line and length. Pattinson (two for 55 off 10) bowled better after his first spell. The two spinners Patel (one for 59 off 10) and Root (four overs for 20) did their job. Ball (8 overs for 61) was rusty once more and dropped short too often. Gurney (8 overs for 57) too after an initial maiden bowled adequately but his ground fielding dipped below what should be expected of a professional cricketer.

After Ben Cotton had ten taken off the opening over. Madsen opened up from the City End and Lumb (6) always susceptible against spin played four dot balls then played a horrendous shot being caught at long off by Hughes, 11 for one. Wessels and Hales added 119 in 16 overs in buccaneering fashion. Alex Hales powered his way to 77 off 58 balls with 11 fours and two sixes but then was out in an ugly fashion when he was bowled middle stump attempting reverse switch hit off Critchley. Wessels got to 67 (60 balls with seven fours and one six) before holing out off Jeevan Mendis to long off where Hughes took the catch. Wessels double hundred against Sussex has clearly given his confidence a massive boost; this was another impressive innings.

 Rain stopped play at 1724 with Notts standing on 233 for three off 37 overs. When play resumed 18 minutes later Notts now required 286 off 47 overs. In the second over of the resumption Taylor skied Mendis to point to depart for 22 (30 balls with three fours), 242 for four. Patel (59 off 80 balls) then threw his wicket away as Madsen returned for a second over. Samit lifting the ball straight to Mendis at long on. Notts were struggling having scored 14 for two off the first five overs following the stoppage. Root being dropped behind the wicket on 3 and then at short mid wicket by Godleman when on 7. The next over Read and Root took 10 off Madsen. But then Chris Read played on to Thakor to depart for eight, 263 for six. Pattinson then took a single allowing Root to then hit a leg side four and then take a single. Seventeen now required off three. Eight runs came off over 45 bowled by Madsen and then a further five off the following over bowled by Critchley. Two leg side twos by Pattinson off Madsen saw Notts home to a slightly jittery victory at 1829. Root and Pattinson had added 23 in 17 balls with Root on 23 and Pattinson on 8. Notts are in sixth position in the Northern Section. MAG

Outlaws now with a 0% win record from this year's cup, must look to start a winning run off at our nearest and dearest rivals on Tuesday. Failure to win will mean the likelihood of this year's cup being an impossible hill to climb with just 3 qualifiers from the table this year.

Will England call-ups Ball and Hales be allowed to play? - suggestion is that this will constitute being the 3rd of 3 games that they're permitted.

Will Stuart Broad be allowed to play or will Andrew Strauss insist Stuart has his feet-up after another heavy schedule in front of the Sky cameras talking ....

Will Michael Lumb be fit?

Derbyshire are likely to prepare another flat, slow wicket to counter Outlaws' quicks so logic should suggest the return of Luke Fletcher, who made way for one of the Internationals in the Viking game.

Point of observation: are the counties all now carrying their T20 names into the One Day Cup, Rapids and Vikings were certainly re-brands for the Blast's introduction but have now sneaked into the cup arena.

Outlaws has been the case for many seasons and Derbyshire change their name fairly regularly, to little effect, much the same as Yorkshire.

Unchanges Notts squad:

Greg Smith
Alex Hales
Riki Wessels
Samit Patel
Brendan Taylor
Billy Root
Chris Read
James Pattinson
Stuart Broad
Luke Fletcher
Jake Ball

Harry Gurney
Michael Lumb