Pat Brown, Ross Whiteley Keep Derbyshire's Knockout Hopes Alive

Pat Brown, Ross Whiteley Keep Derbyshire’s Knockout Hopes Alive – T20

Ex-Worcestershire Players Shine in Vital Win at New Road

Derbyshire 170 for 5 (Madsen 44, Whiteley 41) defeated Worcestershire 169 for 8 (Pollock 67, Brown 4-23) by five wickets*

Derbyshire Falcons kept their Vitality Blast knockout stage hopes alive with a thrilling last-ball victory over an injury-depleted Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.

Returning to their former home ground, ex-Worcestershire players Pat Brown and Ross

Whiteley were instrumental in Derbyshire’s success. Brown delivered an impressive spell, taking 4 for 23, which raised his wicket tally in the competition to 21 and helped restrict Worcestershire to 169 for 8. Whiteley then played a crucial innings, smashing an unbeaten 41 off just 22 balls at a critical juncture when the Falcons were slipping behind the required run rate.

The match came down to the wire. Alex Thomson turned Tom Taylor for the winning run off the final ball, ensuring Derbyshire stayed in the hunt for a knockout spot. To advance, the Falcons must defeat Durham in their final group match on Friday and hope other results favor them.

Worcestershire’s innings was anchored by opener Ed Pollock, who scored his first half-century of the summer. Despite missing eight senior players due to injury, Worcestershire fielded a competitive side, giving Blast debuts to academy player Jack Home and second-team keeper Henry Cullen.

Falcons Captain Samit Patel Opts to Field; Pollock and Whiteley Shine in Thrilling Encounter

Samit Patel, captain of the Falcons, chose to bowl first on a well-worn hybrid pitch.

Worcestershire’s Ed Pollock quickly settled in, hitting two boundaries off an over from spinner Mitch Wagstaff. Still, Pat Brown made an early impact by dismissing Brett D’Oliveira, caught at cover in his first over.

Josh Cobb took advantage of Brown’s initial spell, steering him through the vacant third man and smashing him straight back for a boundary before falling to a catch at backward square leg off the same bowler.

Having had a quiet Blast season so far, Pollock began to find form. A straight drive off Wagstaff moved him into the 30s for the first time this season. Gareth Roderick, the new battery, used the reverse sweep effectively to score two fours and a six off Patel before being caught and bowled by the same bowler.

Ethan Brookes reached over 300 runs for the Blast in his debut season with the Rapids, edging Thomson for four to bring up the 100 in the 12th over. Pollock completed his half-century in 37 balls with seven fours. In comparison, Brookes added a quick 30 from 19 balls before pulling Zak Chappell straight to deep midwicket. Pollock’s innings ended when Whiteley, stationed at deep midwicket, caught him off Chappell’s bowling.

Brown returned for the final over to secure his 20th wicket of the season, dismissing Rob Jones and then running out Tom Taylor with a deflected straight drive from Jake Libby. Brown also picked up a fourth wicket by catching Henry Cullen at cover.

Aneurin Donald gave Derbyshire a strong start in response, hitting two fours and a huge six over backward square leg off Cobb’s opening. Jack Home, making his debut for Worcestershire, quickly made an impression by dismissing Donald for 28 from just 12 balls.

Harry Darley, another young player, took out Luis Reece at cover as Derbyshire reached 50 for 2 in the powerplay. Darley struck again by dismissing David Lloyd, caught by Cullen at the cover, but Madsen and Patel added valuable runs before Patel was dismissed, lofting tamely to long-off against D’Oliveira.

Madsen scored a solid 44 before being bowled by a ramp attempt off Brookes. Whiteley’s Explosive hitting then turned the tide in Derbyshire’s favor. With 14 runs needed off the final over from Tom Taylor, Whiteley eased the pressure by hitting boundaries off the first two deliveries, steering Derbyshire to victory.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.