Outlaws feel the Scorpions sting
by Alan Rowley, 19th June 2003

The Twenty/20 bandwagon came to Derby today and the large crowd witnessed a scintillating Derbyshire display which left the lads from over the border reeling.

Di Venuto - clinical

Those who doubted that this sort of cricket would take off were surely silenced at the County Ground tonight when the largest crowd seen at the ground for many a year went home happy following the home team's rout of the Outlaws. Notts won the toss and elected to bat first, but they were soon in trouble when Dumelow ran out Gallian with the score on 14. Welton and Afzaal steadied the ship and saw the score on to 36, before a major collapse saw four wickets fall for just four runs. First to go was Welton, run out for 5, before Tom Lungley struck a major blow for the Scorpions by dismissing danger men Usman Afzaal and Kevin Pietersen within a couple of runs of each other. Dominic Hewson followed by clean bowling Paul Franks to leave Notts teetering on 40 for 5.

Kevin Pietersen can only look back and wonder as Tom Lungley uproots his middle peg

Lungley had Clough leg before and bowled Bilal Shafayat to claim his fourth wicket for a mere 13 runs. Dumelow claimed Noon and Logan and Greg Smith was unluckily run out to leave Notts back in the pavilion with only 94 on the board.

Luke Sutton looks on as Paul Franks is bowled by Dominic Hewson

Derbyshire had little trouble knocking off the required runs, despite losing skipper Dominic Cork with the score on 56. Di Venuto and Kaif saw the home team safely home without further loss, the Aussie finishing on a clinical 35 runs from 38 balls.

A fine all-round performance from the Scorpions who appear to have got their act together following their dismal display in the first Twenty/20 game at Headingley last Saturday.

The next Twenty/20 at the County Ground is on Monday when Durham are the visitors. At only £6 admission, this is an evening's entertainment that is remarkable value. Get down there and enjoy the fun.