Career best for Pratt as Derbyshire lose again
by Alan Rowley, 12th August 2001

Durham wicketkeeper Andrew Pratt made a career-best score for the second time in three days when he thrashed 86 off 72 balls to set Durham up for a Duckworth-Lewis victory over Derbyshire at the Riverside. Durham's total of 269 for 8 was their highest ever one-day score at the Riverside.

Pratt opened the Durham innings with Nicky Peng and the pair put on 128 for the first wicket before Peng went in the 19th over for 50. Lian Wharton (3 for 23) bowled well to apply the brake to the Durham innings, but a slog in the last five overs put on 61 runs to leave Durham on a formidable total.

Three wickets for Steve Harmison saw Derbyshire slip to 69 for 4, but despite an unbeaten 31 from Rob Bailey and a spirited 35 from Karl Krikken, Derbyshire slowly slipped behind the asking rate.

The rain arrived in the 29th over with the visitors on 134 for 5. It didn't take much brain power to work out that Durham were winners. The margin of victory under the Duckworth-Lewis method was 33 runs.