Northamptonshire’s bowlers toiled but couldn’t defend a low total against Derbyshire.
The Steelbacks were greeted by clear blue skies at a warm Pattonair County Ground as skipper Josh Cobb won the toss and elected to bat on a used pitch. Blessing Muzarabani and Tom Sole joining the Steelbacks eleven in place of Nathan Buck and Luke Procter.
Northamptonshire’s innings started brightly, a series of boundaries for Levi and Rossington taking the score to 32/0 after the first three overs. A double wicket maiden from Hudson-Prentice turned the tides though, as both openers departed within 3 deliveries. Derbyshire capitalised and allowed just 5 runs from the back end of the powerplay.
Cobb, Keogh and Wakely grafted on a tough used pitch to take the score to 83/4 in the 13th but the wicket of Wakely sparked a dramatic collapse for the visitors. From 83/4 the Steelbacks were bowled out for 100, Hughes doing much of the damage to finish with 3/13 from his 4.
Northamptonshire needed early breakthroughs in the powerplay but couldn’t find them. Derbyshire accumulated 34 in the first 6 overs, a missed runout chance courtesy of a mix-up the only chance for the Steelbacks. Keogh struck with his second ball when he had Reece lbw and nearly had two in two, the spinner convinced he’d trapped Madsen first ball – the umpire unmoved.
Derbyshire continued to accumulate, sitting in second gear for most of the innings as they worked the ball around into the gaps of a large outfield. Keogh completed a miserly spell of 1/12 in his 4 but a lack of wickets for the Steelbacks meant the home side were never under real pressure. Madsen accelerated at the back end, striking 7 of the innings’ 13 boundaries to reach 50 as the scores moved level, the Derbyshire number 3 completing the chase with the first ball of the 18th over.
Northamptonshire 100 (18) (Keogh 28, Levi 18)
Derbyshire 101/1 (17.1) (Keogh 1/12)