Patel leads Derbyshire to T20 Blast win at Foxes

4 months ago 26

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Samit Patel hit an unbeaten 67 off 44 balls to lead his Derbyshire Falcons team to a four-wicket win at Leicestershire Foxes in the T20 Blast.

Leicestershire made 184-6 off their 20 overs at Grace Road thanks to some late hitting from Ben Cox, who finished 61 not out from 30 balls.

In reply, the Falcons slipped to 52-3 to bring their T20 captain Patel to the wicket and he was there at the end as Zak Chappell hit the winning boundary to reach 188-6 with four balls to spare.

Victory moves Derbyshire up one place to sixth and two points behind the Foxes, who stay in fourth in the North Group.

After winning the toss, Derbyshire elected to field and it looked like the right call when they reduced the hosts to 78-5.

Lewis Goldsworthy (48) steadied the ship, but it was only when Cox put on 58 in the final four overs with Ben Mike (11 not out) that the Foxes reached a competitive score, the wicket-keeper hitting four fours and four sixes in his knock.

The visitors' innings got off to a flyer in terms of the run rate, but three wickets kept the Foxes well in the game.

Yet Patel put on 80 with fellow veteran Wayne Madsen (46), and then had the nous to see the game through despite the loss of a couple more wickets.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Umpires make a forlorn inspection of the pitch for the T20 game at Radlett

The earlier match in the South Group between Middlesex and Hampshire Hawks was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Rain meant that the game, due to take place at Middlesex's outground of Radlett, could not begin.

Each side pick up a point, which moves Hampshire up two places to sixth, albeit still four points behind the top four, while Middlesex remain bottom.

Sunday's T20 Blast games (all 14:30 BST):

North Group:

Chesterfield: Derbyshire Falcons v Yorkshire Vikings

Emirates Old Trafford: Lancashire Lightning v Worcestershire Rapids