Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire T20

Rutherford’s quickfire 37 helped Derbyshire go past 200

Derbyshire 201-7 (C Hughes 52, Rutherford 37)Nottinghamshire 167 all out (Wessels 66, Rimmington 3-24)Derbyshire won by 34 runsWhat a fantastic response by the Derbyshire players tonight!My arguments over the talent in the side were thoroughly vindicated tonight as we comfortably beat our 'big' yet perennially under-achieving local rivals by 34 runs.It was a team performance, par excellence. Almost everyone got a few runs, led off by Hamish Rutherford, who gave the Powerplay overs the impetus we required. Then came Chesney, with five fours and three sixes in his 52, before Alex Hughes, Tom Knight and Tom Poynton showed common sense and power in the closing overs to steer us to a highest-ever T20 total of 201-7.It gave us every chance of a memorable win, yet the visitors were going like a train before Wes Durston removed both Michael Lumb and the dangerous Rikki Wessels. Still, with a depth in batting, the game was far from won, but a key spell was bowled by Alex Hughes. He followed his useful innings with a spell of four overs for only 22 runs, priceless in such a high-scoring game.With Nathan Rimmington bowling tight closing overs that he is famed for, finishing with 3-24, Derbyshire won when Mullaney was held by Wayne Madsen in the deep from the bowling of Wayne White.It was an excellent effort, a team effort, with the entire eleven playing a part and showing that the talent is most definitely there. Shiv Thakor again bowled an excellent spell and got rid of middle order danger men Patel and Taylor, while the fielding held up well.Seeing a performance like that proves the talent is there and, if we can just find a way of tapping into that conviction and commitment more often, we can win more matches.Now, let's see everyone who is quickly on here to criticise be equally effusive with praise tonight, because it is fully deserved.There will be more from me tomorrow night, but tomorrow is a working day and I must head to bed shortly.The pride is back, now let's keep it there and get on a roll.Well done. lads.