Derbyshire v Durham T20

Durham won a thriller by 5 runs

Durham 147-7
Derbyshire 142-9

Durham won by 5 runs

Ignoring that we were playing a good side from division one tonight, that was a woefully inept batting effort from Derbyshire.

Another very good bowling effort kept the visitors to an eminently gettable 147-7 in their twenty overs. The bowlers, at the very least, seem to have mastered the skills of this form of the game and without exception appear to have bowled well. I am also pleased to see Wes Durston rotating them regularly, never allowing the batsmen to line them up.

It was a very good effort and gave us a chance of a surprise win.

We needed a start and got one. Dilshan and Durston did well, Chesney knocked it around and Scott Elstone and the overseas pro took us to 86-2 at the halfway stage, then 106-2 after 13. Forty-two to win, a run a ball, should be easy-peasy.

What a shambles we made of the batting from there. No other word will do, to be honest and I take nothing away from the Durham bowlers in saying that it was embarrassingly predictable and worryingly followed the pattern of the last couple of games.

We scored 36 for eight in the last seven overs and when Dilshan left for a well-played 54, it became a procession. I know we are missing Wayne Madsen and Alex Hughes, both of who would be in a first choice side, but there should have been enough in the tank tonight to breeze that game.

It was undoubtedly an opportunity missed. We have some talented players at Derbyshire and they are better than this inept closing effort.

The supporters were let down tonight.