Saturday 13 June 2015 12:10, UK
David Willey smashed 60 off 27 balls as Northamptonshire beat Derbyshire to clinch their first win in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast at the County Ground.
Willey, who was released by England to play in the North Group game, hit four sixes and six fours as the Steelbacks chased down their target of 167 with 13 balls to spare.
The all-rounder was supported by a quickfire 34 from Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi and an unbeaten 31 from Alex Wakely as the home side won by six wickets.
Willey had earlier taken 2-34, which included the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan for a duck, to restrict Derbyshire to 166-7.
He was supported by Steven Crook who took 2-23, while Afridi and Rory Kleinveldt also took a wicket each.
Wes Durston top-scored for Derbyshire with 77 not out from 63 balls.
Shiv Thakor was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers taking 2-20 but Dilshan had a day to forget, conceding 29 runs from his two overs.
The win sees Derbyshire go level with Northants at the bottom of the North Group table
Elsewhere, Michael Klinger’s unbeaten century was in vain as Gloucestershire were beaten by 18 runs by Essex at Chelmsford.
The Australian made 104 not out but the visitors were restricted to 163-7 in their chase of 182 runs.
Opener Mark Pettini earlier hit 68 after hitting 10 boundaries while Ryan ten Doeschate made 21 for the home side.
Tom Smith was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers with 3-26 and James Fuller and David Payne took two wickets apiece.
The win moves Essex into fourth place in the South Group table while Gloucestershire remain in second place.
