Derbyshire scrape past Kent in CB40 clash

Derbyshirehave beaten Kent Spitfires bythree-wickets in a low-scoring encounter at the St Lawrence Ground. In pursuit of Kent’s 40-over total of 208 for nine, the Falcons reached their target with three balls to spare to clinch their sixth Group A success of the season for a third-placed finish, with Kent finishing in fourth.

Batting proved difficult for both sides on a dry, previously-used pitch, where no less than nine spinners plied their trade to entice a rash of ill-judged shots during an end-of-season clash that had nothing riding on the result in terms of qualification or prize money.

Derbyshire made a poor start when confusion over a short single between Chesney Hughes and Matt Lineker led to Hughes being run out for one by Daniel Bell-Drummond.

Lineker reached 13 before edging an airy drive to the keeper off Adam Ball then Wes Durston holed out to long-on to give James Tredwell the first of his two wickets.

Greg Smith and Wayne Madsen combined to add 67 in 12 overs for the fourth wicket before Smith (28) danced past a turning delivery from Tredwell to be stumped.

Madsen was rewarded for his vigilance with a 59-ball half-century, but undid his good work 10 balls later by chipping a return catch to off-spinner Adam Riley to go for 64.

With 11 required Jonathan Clare (19) skied to deep mid-wicket off an Azhar Mahmood slower ball then, with five needed, Ross Whiteley crashed a low catch to cover to go for an eye-catching 40, leaving Peter Burgoyne to win it with a rasping cover drive to the ropes in the final over.

Batting first after winning the toss on an overcast afternoon, Kent’s openers Joe Denly and Bell-Drummond made an unusually watchful start.

With only 14 on the board, Bell-Drummond (five) went leg-before midway through the fifth over when playing around a straight one from Tony Palladino.

Denly hit numerous crisp drives during his 36-ball stay but picked out the fielders more often than not. His patience ran out with his score on 35 when he sliced another forcing shot to Madsen at point to gift Clare a cheap wicket.

The soft dismissals continued when van Jaarsveld (18) chipped a catch to short mid-wicket then, three overs later, Darren Stevens (one) mistimed a drive to short extra cover against the off-spin of Tom Knight.

Sam Northeast (10) played across the line to be bowled by Knight, bringing together acting Kent captain Geraint Jones and Azhar Mahmood to ensure the hosts edged past 200. The sixth-wicket partners added 44 in 6.2 overs with Jones contributing a cameo 34 with three fours, while Mahmood reached a patient 50, only his second in the competition this year, from 69 balls and with only four boundaries.

Mahmood went for a season’s best 68 when he carved a back-foot slash into the hands of backward point, Tredwell heaved across the line to be bowled for one then Palladino snared Jones lbw to finish with fine figures of four for 32.

Matt Coles and Ball hit out lustily in the closing stages to leave the Falcons to chase at an asking rate of 5.22 an over.

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Photo by Sarah Ansell sarahcanterbury.com