Match report: Derbyshire v Lancashire T20
Another game, another loss.
A fine partnership between Brown and Croft helped Lancashire to recover from a difficult start with an unbroken partnership of 131 for the fourth wicket. The continued absence of North, a bowler with international credentials, from the attack is a puzzle, and I can only assume he has an injury. With Chesney only bowling one over, we had fourteen overs of seam that went for 127 runs.
Once again, however, our Powerplay was a somewhat lamentable misnomer. 39-1 from six overs when chasing 170 in 19 to win left us chasing ten an over for the remainder of the innings. That's a massive challenge for any side and is going to win no more than one match in ten, and that too only if someone plays a 'special' innings.
It certainly didn't win us this one. While Durston bowled well tonight, five from ten balls as the innings required major acceleration was indicative of a batsman still struggling for form. Elstone and Madsen scored quickly when they came together, but we have to do something about the top order, and quickly.
Northamptonshire are next up in a televised match on Thursday, and, as reigning champions, they are going to provide a stiff test. At this stage, I'm far from convinced that we are up for it.
Let's hope for a better effort from the Rams tomorrow.
Postscript: Warm congratulations to Scott Elstone on the contract that keeps him with us until at least the end of 2016. He has a lot of talent, and perhaps we need to allow a naturally fast-scoring batsman an opportunity to move up the order.
We could use 24 from twelve balls during those crucial first six overs....