Match report: Derbyshire v Lancashire T20

Marcus North in Perth Scorchers’ colours

Another game, another loss.A fine partnership between Brown and Croft helped Lancashire to recover from a difficult start with an unbroken partnership of 131 for the fourth wicket. The continued absence of North, a bowler with international credentials, from the attack is a puzzle, and I can only assume he has an injury. With Chesney only bowling one over, we had fourteen overs of seam that went for 127 runs.Once again, however, our Powerplay was a somewhat lamentable misnomer. 39-1 from six overs when chasing 170 in 19 to win left us chasing ten an over for the remainder of the innings. That's a massive challenge for any side and is going to win no more than one match in ten, and that too only if someone plays a 'special' innings.It certainly didn't win us this one. While Durston bowled well tonight, five from ten balls as the innings required major acceleration was indicative of a batsman still struggling for form. Elstone and Madsen scored quickly when they came together, but we have to do something about the top order, and quickly.Northamptonshire are next up in a televised match on Thursday, and, as reigning champions, they are going to provide a stiff test. At this stage, I'm far from convinced that we are up for it.Let's hope for a better effort from the Rams tomorrow.Postscript: Warm congratulations to Scott Elstone on the contract that keeps him with us until at least the end of 2016. He has a lot of talent, and perhaps we need to allow a naturally fast-scoring batsman an opportunity to move up the order.We could use 24 from twelve balls during those crucial first six overs....