Lancashire v Derbyshire T20

A game that looked eminently winnable at halfway through our innings slipped away tonight as Derbyshire fell from 97-2 after 12 to a defeat by 12 runs, while chasing a victory target of 166.

It had looked gettable but the game seemed to turn on the injury to Shivnarine Chanderpaul that caused him to need a runner. This ended with the foresaid runner, Wes Durston, being run out and effectively ending our chances.

A lot hinged on Albie Morkel at that point, but as well as the South African has bowled, his batting hasn’t fired in our colours yet and when he holed out at long on the game appeared to be up.

The skipper batted well and took us closer than seemed likely, but the rate was rising and when Madsen was caught off a top edge, the game had gone.

It was a pity. Earlier, we had bowled pretty well, and the Lancashire innings grew on one big over off the bowling of David Wainwright, when Stephen Moore hit him many a mile. We never quite replicated the 23 that came off that over, despite Wes Durston batting well and leading us off in fine style. It was good to see Mark Turner back and bowling well, while Dan Redfern has become a more than useful weapon with the ball.

So Lancashire move a point ahead of us, but we still have the game in hand. That game at Chesterfield takes on additional importance on Sunday and the fitness of our talismanic West Indian would appear to be in doubt for that one.

More on that tomorrow. Mind you… Gordon Greenidge batted at his best on one leg…

I wonder?