da stake casino： Derbyshire, bottom of the Second Division last year but early-season pacemakers this summer, lost their 100 per cent record in a tight finish
Roy Bradley20-May-2001Derbyshire, bottom of the Second Division last year but early-season pacemakers this summer, lost their 100 per cent record in a tight finish.Vikram Solanki’s first one-day half-century since June last year gave Worcestershire the platform to scrape home by three wickets with four balls to spare in a low-scoring match dominated by the seamers.With the ball swinging or seaming on an inconsistent pitch, Derbyshire mustered 168 for six, but the home side recovered from 141 for seven in a brave effort by their long-serving eighth-wicket pair, Steve Rhodes and Stuart Lampitt.There was more than a touch irony that Rhodes (26 not out) hoisted the winning boundary off Richard Illingworth, a fellow-Yorkshireman, close friend and team-mate at New Road in a golden era for Worcestershire cricket.It was not the best of returns to the ground for Illingworth, who was driven for six by Solanki during a vital partnership of 84 in 20 overs with David Leatherdale.Linking up after three early wickets for Tim Munton, they made Derbyshire pay for the absence of a fourth seam bowler and Munton had to come back to nail Leatherdale (38) for a final return of 4 for 31.Off spinner Nathan Dumelow had Solanki caught behind for 52 and Tom Lungley kept up the pressure with a nine-over ration of 1 for 19, but Worcestershire’s old hands had the last word.Derbyshire’s innings was built on an opening stand of 61 by Michael Di Venuto and Rob Bailey and a late dash organised by Wasim Khan with 30 not out.