Foxes suffer first away defeat

NatWest T20 Blast Matchday 8: Derbyshire Falcons v Leicestershire Foxes

SCORECARD

RESULT | Derbyshire Falcons (2 points) beat Leicestershire Foxes by seven wickets

REACTION | Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Chris Egerton after the match, the interview is available HERE

REPORT | Derbyshire Falcons inflicted a first away defeat on Leicestershire Foxes in the NatWest T20 Blast after a low-scoring game at the 3aaa County Ground.

The Falcons generally had spin operating alongside seam and it proved an effective combination as the Foxes were restricted to 104 for 9 from their 20 overs.

Derbyshire's five bowlers conceded between 18 to 23 from their respective four-over allocations - an outstanding effort in any circumstances.

New ball duo Dieter Klein (4-0-23-2) and Mat Pillans reduced the Falcons to 21 for 3 before Wayne Madsen, who had taken 1 for 22 from four overs, continued his fine game by posting 49 not out off 38 balls (7x4).

The batsman shared an unbroken 86 with Alex Hughes (36 off 28, 4x4, 1x6). The duo helped the Falcons reach 107 for 3 after 13.5 overs to end the Foxes' winning run on their travels at four matches.

Leicestershire showed one change to the side that lost to Durham Jets as Mark Pettini returned for Lewis Hill.

Luke Ronchi picked up where he left off from his record-breaking innings against Durham Jets on Friday night by nudging the very first delivery of the game for four.

But it was one of only seven four boundaries in the entire innings as Derbyshire's bowlers were highly disciplined.

The variation of speed started with quick Hardus Viljoen and off-spinner Madsen bowling 36 balls between them in the first seven overs. They operated well in tandem in restricting the generally free-scoring top order to 35 for 2.

Ronchi departed for 5 (off 5) in the second over as a Viljoen delivery jagged back off the seam and the ball found its way on to leg stump off an inside edge.

Mark Cosgrove (7 off 8) fell at the start of the fifth over when looking for a single off Madsen, the left-hander beaten by a Matthew Critchley-Daryn Smit combination after being sent back by opener Cameron Delport.

County upped the tempo as captain Colin Ackermann pulled for four in Imran Tahir's first over before Delport hammered Madsen for six over mid-on as the 50 came up halfway through the ninth over.

The left-hander departed to the next delivery attempting a replica of the stroke, caught by Hughes on the boundary having posted 21 (off 23).

Pettini pleasantly clipped off his toes to find the mid-wicket boundary as the Foxes progressed to 58 for 3 after 10.

Leicestershire were looking to accelerate but another key blow was struck when top-scorer Ackermann (24 off 26) pulled Ben Cotton's first delivery to Hughes at deep square-leg.

Although Pettini (16 off 17) and Aadil (9 off 13) worked the ball around, boundaries were not forthcoming and the duo perished in the pursuit of trying to find the ropes.

Pettini was caught by Billy Godleman at deep mid-wicket off Matt Henry while Aadil advanced to Tahir and was stumped by Smit.

Derbyshire's leg-spinner also struck with his final delivery as Mat Pillans (0 off 3) was caught by Hughes at long-on, leaving the Foxes at 89 for 7 with just 18 deliveries left.

Both Klein (3 off 4) and Tom Wells (8 off 11) were caught deep in the leg-side in the penultimate over as Henry finished with a superb return of 3 for 18.

Gavin Griffiths found the boundary for the first time since the tenth over to take the Foxes into three figures in the last, the number eleven ending on 6 not out with Callum Parkinson unbeaten on 4.

There was an unfortunate start to the chase as Critchley had to retire hurt in the opening over after taking a blow to the helmet.

The Foxes needed early wickets and claimed three inside the first three overs. Godleman (10 off 9) hit two consecutive boundaries by punching Pillans through the off-side before nicking the quick’s following delivery to Ronchi.

A shower brought about a brief delay and Klein struck with the first ball of the resumption as Ronchi took a brilliant diving effort down the leg-side to dismiss dangerman Luis Reece (1 off 2).

Gary Wilson found the boundary at third man and fine-leg in a whirlwind stay of 10 (off 5) that came to an end as Klein removed the off stump.

Suddenly the Falcons were 21 for 3 but Madsen steadied the ship, driving down the ground before a cheeky dink over the 'keeper and powerful cut brought further boundaries.

Hughes added four fours of his own as the Falcons moved to 70 for 3 at halfway and the 50 partnership duly followed.

Madsen struck four more boundaries to help win the game, including another of his quirky cut strokes, while Hughes struck a maximum as he also played a key role in taking the Falcons over the line.

Leicestershire Foxes remain on eight points from their first eight games and are next in action in an East Midlands derby against Notts Outlaws on Wednesday evening (6.30pm).

Bowling figures for Leicestershire: Klein 4-0-23-2, Pillans 3.5-0-41-1, Parkinson 2-0-13-0, Griffiths 3-0-19-0, Ackermann 1-0-10-0.