Derbyshire Falcons v Essex Eagles Vitality T20 Blast S/F at Edgbaston

Bewildered, baffled and bloody-cross after the first semi-final, the light suddenly dawned on me as to why "Trent Rockets", it just came to me out of the blue, I don't know why...

Well yes I do. Nuts the Squirrel had again performed so poorly in the mascot race, hampered by the bulkier costume and a huge non-aerodynamic tail, the sneaky senior management at Trent Bridge Catering, Entertainments and Cricket Ltd  along with their ECB allies have devised  a means to win subsequent mascot races - Rocky the Rocket, 0 to 60 in 0.2 seconds, top speed 7000 mph; once the mascot race  has been transferred to the fully diverse, gender non-specific Hundred Finals Day at the Oval. When Rocky is launched , it's sure to blow Twinkle et al away.

So with that Road to Damascus moment, I settled down for the Falcon verses the Eagles now even more bewildered, baffled and bloody-cross. Eagles won the toss and having seen Outlaws' stumbling efforts at the climax, chose to bat first at which they started steadily. In around the fourth over, an over where Cameron Delport, who opened with Tom Westley, and took a liking to Fynn Hudson-Prentice with three boundaries in the one over, I decided to take a lap of the ground and snatch glimpses of play at few other vantage points (photos of which will eventually appear on Harry Butler Daft's Facebook in few days time).

Eagles 50 came-up in the sixth over and they lost their first wicket (see photo) in the 9th 78/1, Delport lofting a catch to Derbyshire star of 2019, Luis Reece from the bowling of the effective, but innocuous bowling of Alex Hughes for 55(31 balls).

I continued my lap, observed a couple of Roy Hull and Emus, a vicar and a pair of miners, complete with pick axes all queuing for a pint.

Dan Lawrence and Ryan ten Doeschate came in and left cheaply as the Falcons clawed their way back into the contest. Opener Westley was the fourth wicket 39 (34) on 107/4 but Ravi Bopara and Adam Wheater maintained that the rate stayed at around 8 rpo and that is where the innings closed 160/5 - the best score of the day against the weakest all round bowling line-up of the day but a score never the less not beyond the reach of Derbyshire if their rag tag band of misfits could come-off.

Having waited 17 years for a Finals day, many Derbyshire fans couldn't watch, being around the back of the stand smoking, nerves as with their players, playing their part on the day.

Falcons Flying start

Falcons with Luis Reece, got off to a flying start, Reece racing to 19 (7 balls), before edging Aaron Beard to the keeper in the second over. As did Reece, Godleman took a fancy to Jamie Porter, hitting the boards off him but on 9 he was bowled by Eagle's skipper, Simon Harmer's, first delivery. 

Slow death from strangulation by spin

South African pair, Madsen and du Plooy didn't last long together, as spin took over and wickets fell; 48/3 became 67/5 in the 8th over. At 82/6 with the fall of Matt Critchley, bowled by Aron Nijjar, the wheels were well and truly off the Derby wagon. The bungees were being catapulted in rapid succession now. Premature death came to the Falcons' innings, 34 runs short - 9 wickets falling to spin but Simon Harmer being the Cheif Executioner with 4/19.

Derbyshire didn't build any partnerships and only scored with any freedom off the quicker bowlers.

Again thoughts went "what if we had had Imad on this pitch..."

Note to any malcontent Notts members, Derbyshire's membership for 2020 will cost just £150 in their 150th year.