One Day Cup Report: Warwickshire v Derbyshire

Derbyshire launched their Royal London Cup campaign in impressive style with a 57-run win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Two weeks after suffering a heavy Specsavers County Championship defeat in Birmingham, Billy Godleman’s side exacted revenge with a resounding victory of their own in the shorter format.

Godleman led the way with a career-best 137 (116 balls, 12 fours, three sixes) as Derbyshire piled up 357 for eight, their highest List A total against a first-class county.
The captain received excellent support from Ben Slater 69 (66 balls, ten fours), Wayne Madsen (58, 44 balls, three fours, four sixes) and Matt Critchley (35, 18 balls, three fours, two sixes).

With the faster bowlers expensive, medium-pacer Jonathan Trott caused most inconvenience, taking four for 65.
Warwickshire’s reply was then carried by Sam Hain who struck a classy 108 (101 balls, 11 fours, one six), his sixth List A century in just 30 games. But whereas Godleman’s innings was well-supported, Hain’s was not and a Derbyshire attack including debutant Safyaan Sharif bowled with collective discipline to close out a convincing win.

Put in, Derbyshire openers Godleman and Slater made good use of excellent batting condition to build a stand of 129 from 116 balls. Madsen then joined his captain to add 99 from 84 balls. On the ground at which he scored a high-class championship century two weeks earlier, Madsen was soon flowing again until he fell lbw to Jeetan Patel.

As Godelman and Critchley swung freely, the bowler who imposed most control was the sixth used – Trott. He had Critchley stumped then dismissed Aaron Hughes, who reverse-swept to short third man, and Luis Reece, caught at mid-off. Trott applied a temporary brake to the scoring rate but Godelman struck him for 16 in three balls before perishing to Adam Hose’s direct hit from mid-off.

Trott’s fourth wicket arrived when Sharif pulled to deep square but a punchy unbeaten 26 from 18 balls by Daryn Smit levered the total above 350 in the final over.
Warwickshire’s reply was soon slogging uphill after Duanne Olivier removed both openers in his first nine balls. Ed Pollock, on his List A debut, chipped to mid on and Trott gloved a pull.

Hain played sweetly but Critchley turned one inside Ian Bell’s drive to win an lbw decision. Hain and Hose (33, 32 balls, three fours, one six) added 75 in 64 balls but Hose then sent a return catch to Ravi Rampaul and Tim Ambrose chipped Hughes to mid-off.

Warwickshire fell further and further behind the clock and when Hain was caught at long-off off Reece, the lower order was required to find 148 from the last 15 overs. Despite Keith Barker’s merry unbeaten 48 (34 balls, six fours, one six), they failed.