One-Day Cup Report: Derbyshire Falcons v Warwickshire
Warwickshire’s hopes of qualifying from the Royal London Cup North Group are over following a five-wicket defeat to Derbyshire at the Pattonair County Ground.
Put in, the Bears posted 288 for seven after recovering from a parlous 113 for five thanks to List A-best scores from Alex Thomson, Alex Mellor and George Panayi.
Thomson continued his impressive 50-over campaign with an unbeaten 68 (73 balls, three fours, one six) as he added 103 in 18 overs with Mellor (58, 67 balls) and 58 in nine with Panayi (26, 28 balls).
They gave the Bears a solid total, albeit one which looked no more than par on a good batting track. When Derbyshire were 110 for three, Thomson having removed both openers, the match was in the balance but Wayne Madsen (119 not out, 104 balls) and Aaron Hughes (69, 68) added 134 in 22 overs to lift their side towards a victory which arrived with 21 balls to spare.
Put in, the Bears made staccato progress as their top four each made a start but failed to build on it and perished between 18 and 34. Ed Pollock smote 18 from 13 balls before skying a return catch to Logan Van Beek. Dom Sibley moved fluently to 29 (31 balls) then edged Van Beek to the wicketkeeper.
Sam Hain and Will Rhodes took their side to 98 for two in the 17th over before three wickets fell for 15 runs in 29 balls. In three previous List A innings at Derby, Hain had scored 109, 54 and 145 not out and, when he reached 34 (38 balls), another match-shaping innings beckoned, but then he nicked an attempt to force Luis Reece off the back foot.
Scotland left-arm spinner Mark Watt then struck twice in four balls as Will Rhodes (20, 30 balls) fell lbw and Liam Banks hoisted to long off.
That left the Bears 113 for five but Thomson and Mellor, playing their seventh and fifth List A games respectively, rebuilt carefully at first before climbing into some shots. Mellor reached his half-century with an enormous six off Matt Critchley and celebrated with another, next ball.
After Mellor was caught at deep square, George Panayi, playing his sixth List A game, offered Thomson further good support before perishing to a catch at long on in the final over.
Thomson was soon in the thick of the action with the ball, terminating Derbyshire opening stand of 61 in 11 overs by bowling Billy Godleman (40, 37 balls). He then removed the other opener, Reece, caught at slip by Rhodes from a deflection off Mellor’s gloves.
Jeetan Patel struck with his first ball, which Tom Lace lifted to cover, but Madsen and Hughes were immediately assertive. They reached half-centuries from 43 and 53 balls respectively and had broken the back of the chase by the time Hughes was smartly caught by Pollock at mid-on off Thomson.
Madsen saw the job through though in accomplished fashion with his fifth List A century, which took his average in the format above 40.
