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Derbyshire come out on top in thriller
Anuj Dal crafted a fine century as Derbyshire claimed a thrilling one-wicket win over Somerset in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at the Cooper Associates County Ground to go top of Group A.
The hosts posted 316 for five after losing the toss in what was a rollercoaster match which saw both teams claiming the upper hand throughout the day.
Sean Dickson made a superb 86 off 64 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, whilst James Rew hit 88, Andy Umeed 58 and Josh Thomas 54 not out. Zak Chappell claimed three for 54 for the visitors.
Derbyshire’s reply of 317 for nine centred on the middle order efforts of Dal, who struck 115 off 75 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes, and David Lloyd (71). Seventeen-year-old Harry Moore saw them home with ten balls to spare, scoring 36 not out, while George Thomas returned three for 41, also a List A career-best.
Moore had previously amassed just ten runs in three List A innings, but the youngster eclipsed that with five fours and a six in a match-winning 20-ball cameo.
After Chappell and Sam Conners had removed George Thomas and Lewis Goldsworthy respectively in the opening four overs of the game, Rew and Umeed rode some early luck to compile their second three-figure stand in this season’s competition, both reaching half-centuries in the 24th over, Umeed off 62 balls and Rew off 66.
Umeed fell with the total on 141, caught at short cover off leg-spinner Mitch Wagstaff. Rew followed with 40 more runs added, pouched at fine leg top-edging a pull shot off Chappell, knowing that the foundation had been laid for a late assault.
It came from Dickson and Josh Thomas as Somerset plundered 89 off the last seven overs, Dickson moving to a 51-ball half-century and then clearing the ropes off Conners twice and once off Harry Moore, whose ninth over went for 22.
Dickson fell to Chappell, but Thomas continued the rampage, hoisting the last ball of the innings, a free hit off Conners, over long-off for six to reach a 41-ball fifty.
Reece ensured a rapid start to the visitors’ reply, taking six fours off the first two overs sent down by Charlie Cassell. Harry Came helped take the score to 60 before being pinned lbw by George Thomas off the final ball of the ten-over powerplay.
Thomas picked up a second wicket when Brooke Guest, on 15, edged a catch behind. Then Lloyd called for a quick single after playing a ball from Thomas to cover and Reece, on 44, failed to beat Umeed’s fast throw to wicketkeeper Rew.
Matt Lamb was bowled by Jack Leach looking to make room to force through the off-side and Derbyshire were suddenly 89 for four. That became 90 for five when Samit Patel offered a return catch to Thomas, who brilliantly flung out a left hand to grab the sharp chance.
Lloyd and Dal gave Derbyshire hope with a sixth-wicket stand of 145, both reaching half-centuries in the 33rd over, Dal first off 36 balls and Lloyd off the next delivery from Leach, off 53. The next over saw their century partnership off 82 deliveries.
It took the return of seamer Josh Davey to break the partnership when Lloyd reverse-swept a catch to short third-man. Chappell was caught at cover by Shoaib Bashir in the same over to make it 235 for seven.
Wagstaff was run out by brilliant direct hit at the bowler’s end by Dickson before Dal reached a 69-ball hundred. He was bowled by Davey with 12 runs needed, but Moore held his nerve to clinch a precious win.
