How did we manage to lose?
by Alan Rowley, 3rd July 2004

Twenty/20 returned to the County Ground on Friday night with the visit of Yorkshire. On paper, it should have been a night to remember for Derbyshire supporters, but the County managed to throw away a winning opportunity as the Yorkshire tail-enders set about the Derbyshire bowlers in the final two overs to set up an unlikely win.

It should have been so different. A Friday night in the height of Summer. A large crowd expected. Hospitality in full swing in the new pavilion and some exciting cricket in prospect. As it happened, we got the exciting cricket, but it was cold and damp and the bedraggled Derbyshire fans went home disappointed.

Mohammad Ali in full flight

Mohamad Sheikh - bowled well

Derbyshire took first knock and their innings was pretty uninspiring. Only Hassan Adnan (32) and Dominic Hewson (21) managed to get going as the home side stuttered to 133 for 8 from their 20 overs. With the average score in last year's tournament hovering nearer the 150 mark, this score was likely to prove insufficient.

Derbyshire's bowling was loose early on, and the Yorkshire openers raced on to 28 before the first wicket fell. Andrew Gale was the first to fall to a fine Adnan catch in front of the pavilion. Matthew Wood went for 28 with the score on 34 and Derbyshire were back in the game.

A heavy shower forced the players to retreat to the pavilion, and when play re-started, Yorkshire's target was 108 from 15 overs. They slowly fell behind the asking rate thanks to some keen fielding and good bowling from Mohammad Ali and Mohamad Sheikh. Adnan was particularly good in the field, taking another excellent catch to dismiss Lumb off Ali.

With four overs remaining, Yorkshire's asking rate was over 12 an over and the home fans were already counting their winnings. However, things went horribly wrong for Derbyshire. After bowling and fielding so well throughout Yorkshire's reduced innings, Derbyshire managed to throw it all away in the final two overs.

Silverwood hit three successive fours off the penultimate over, two of them sliced over the keeper's head. Moss bowled a full toss at Jacques (pictured left) in the final over, which the Aussie launched into the executive bar. The Yorkies scuttled two off a bye to the keeper when Sutton's shy at the stumps missed. Finally, Hassan Adnan, who had fielded superbly all day, missed the stumps off the final ball which would have resulted in a tie.

So, Yorkshire managed to pull off an unlikely one wicket win off the last ball and the excitiement of the occassion was lost to the disappointed Derbyshire fans as they spilled out of the ground. With David Houghton asking us to keep August 7th free for the finals day, Derbyshire will need to pull something out of the hat if they are to make it to the next stage.