All posts by h716a5.icu

A round-up of the action from the fifth day of matches in the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2011West ZoneSiddharth Chitnis continued his blistering start to the tournament with a blazing century against Maharashtra to rescue Mumbai from a precarious position in their chase of 218 at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara. Chitnis’ 100 from 70 balls ensured Mumbai won with 51 balls to spare, but things looked tricky for them at 94 for 5. Seamers Shrikant Mundhe and Samad Fallah had done the early damage, but Chitnis took the game away from Maharashtra with his aggressive knock that included a whopping 10 sixes. He dominated a 63-run sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Aditya Tare, who scored just 13, and then finished the game with Ajit Agarkar for company. Mumbai would have hoped for a more relaxed chase after left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla took 4 for 29 to help bowl Maharashtra out in 48.4 overs. Chitnis, who made his List A debut in the first game against Baroda, is now the second leading run scorer in the tournament, having made 224 runs at a strike rate of 143.58. Abdulla is the leading bowler, having taken 15 wickets in four games. Baroda picked up the victory and a bonus point from their match against Saurashtra at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara. They reached 246 after electing to bat and then dismissed Saurashtra for 180. Baroda were given a solid start by opener Kedar Devdhar, who scored 63 off 87 balls, and some handy contributions from the middle order ensured they reached a competitive total, though they would not have been pleased with the three run-outs in their innings. Seamer Murtuja Vahora dented Saurashtra’s chase early, taking three wickets to help reduce the visitors to 64 for 4. The left-arm spinners took over from there, with Swapnil Singh bagging 4 for 26 and Bhargav Bhatt taking 2 for 28.North ZoneDelhi made heavy weather of a target of 166, beating Himachal Pradesh by three wickets at the Sector 16 Stadium in Chandigarh. Having been put in to bat, Himachal were rocked early, losing two wickets to consecutive balls from Sumit Narwal in the fifth over. They never recovered, the innings’ highest score of 46 coming from opener Hemant Dogra. Delhi began their chase shakily, collapsing to 29 for 4, before spirited rear guard efforts from Puneet Mehra (42 not out) and Narwal (37) saw them home.Haryana completed their third straight win of the tournament in as many matches, defeating Services by 28 runs at the Dhruve Pandove Stadium in Patiala with a solid all-round performance. Choosing to bat first, Haryana built their innings around opener Mukul Dagar, who top scored with 50, and 30-something cameos from Rahul Dewan and Sunny Singh. Medium-pacer Sumit Singh ran through Haryana’s middle order, taking 4 for 42 to restrict them to 246 for 8. Services’ best partnership was a 92-run stand between middle order batsmen Yashpal Singh and Madhusudhan Reddy. But with no other batsman passing 26, and Joginder Sharma and Amit Mishra bowling tight spells to take five wickets between them, Haryana always held the upper hand.A big opening stand, followed by an explosive 44 off 18 balls by Manpreet Gony, saw Punjab defeat Jammu & Kashmir by eight wickets with 15 overs to spare at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. After electing to field, Punjab bowled out J&K for 220. The pick of Punjab’s bowlers was Rahul Sharma, who finsihed with 4 for 28 from 9.3 overs. Only two J&K batsmen played noteworthy innings – opener Imraj Thakur with 52 and Amit Pal Singh with 60. Punjab’s openers Karan Goel and Ravi Inder Singh scored half centuries, after which Gony – promoted to No. 3 in the line-up – pummelled the bowlers for five sixes and a four in his short stay at the crease, to take the game firmly away from J&K.East ZoneFive wickets from seamer Yaju Krishanatry and an unbeaten century by opener Akash Verma helped Jharkhand cruise to an eight-wicket victory against Bengal at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala. Krishanatry gave Jharkhand the ideal start after they chose to field, reducing Bengal to 25 for 3. While he was the one who took the wickets, his new-ball partner Kuldeep Sharma was economical, finishing with figures of 1 for 26 from 10 overs. After the early flurry of wickets, Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha rebuilt the innings with a 102-run partnership. Tiwary was out for 59, while Saha made 60, but the lower order didn’t contribute much and Bengal only managed 216. Jharkhand needed just 43.2 overs to reach their target, with Verma scoring 116 not out, and Ishank Jaggi getting 75.Orissa completed a convincing win over Tripura at the Polytechnic Institute Ground in Agartala, with Biplab Samantray performing with both bat and ball. Samantray’s 80 off 88 balls helped take Orissa to a total of 255 after they elected to bat. He put together 98 runs for the fifth wicket with Rashmi Das, who scored 51. Bibhudutta Panda smacked an unbeaten 38 off 25 balls to give Orissa’s innings momentum towards the end overs. In reply, Tripura slumped to 10 for 3, with Alok Mangaraj picking up two early wickets. Yogesh Takawale’s 61 was the only resistance as Tripura were bowled out for 186, with Samantray chipping with two wickets.Central ZoneUttar Pradesh moved into a three-way tie at the top of the Central Zone points table with a narrow three-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh at Green Park in Kanpur. Put into bat, MP got off to a poor start, losing both openers inside six overs. UP continued to take wickets at regular intervals and at 107 for 6, it looked like MP would struggle to get 200. Rameez Khan (55) then added 61 for seventh wicket with Harpreet Singh (33) and 32 for the eighth Ankit Sharma (20) to push the score to 213. UP openers Rohit (60) and Tanmay Srivastava (55) started well, adding 119 for the first wicket, and though the middle and lower orders wobbled a little, the result was never in doubt after that. UP is now tied with MP and and Vidarbha, though MP has played one game more.Sanjay Bangar and Shreyas Khanolkar made centuries at the top of the order to lead Rajasthan to a 31-run win over Vidarbha at the Kamla Club Sports Ground in Kanpur. Justifying the decision to bat first, Khanolkar and Bangar added 182 for the first wicket before the former was trapped leg-before to Shrikant Wagh for 103, an innings studded with 12 fours and a six. Bangar pushed on to make 139, falling with just two balls left in the innings, as Rajasthan piled up 312. Vidarbha made a decent fist of the chase, but no one was able to go on and make a big score – Shalabh Srivastava top scored with 64 – and ultimately came up short.

A big Newcastle United selection claim has emerged over Darsley Park gem Elliot Anderson…

What’s the talk?

Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope has confirmed that the youngster will not be making an appearance for the Magpies until next season at the earliest.

The 19-year-old returned to Tyneside this week after the conclusion of the League Two campaign last Saturday and will now bide his time until pre-season later this year.

Hope tweeted: “It would have been great to see Elliot Anderson for Newcastle in final two games, but club say he is not eligible to feature after loan spell at Bristol Rovers.”

Supporters will be gutted

Newcastle supporters will surely be gutted by this news, as it would have been exciting to see him play against Arsenal and/or Burnley in the Premier League.

The Magpies have avoided relegation to the Championship and these last two matches will play no part in deciding whether or not they stay in the top flight. This means that it would have been a great opportunity to hand some minutes to the youngster to give him a taste of what may be to come.

His form for Bristol Rovers in the second half of the campaign suggests that he has the potential to make the step up to first-team level.

In 21 appearances for Joey Barton’s side, he scored seven goals and provided six assists as he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.23. Anderson created eight ‘big chances’ in total and provided 1.9 key passes per game as he showcased his consistency and quality during his spell on loan.

He was also involved in one of the craziest matches in EFL history as he scored once and provided two assists in a 7-0 win against Scunthorpe on the final day of the League Two season. This win resulted in his side securing promotion on goals scored after the seven-goal drubbing placed them level on points and even goal difference with Northampton.

The 19-year-old will come back to Newcastle as a better player for this experience, as he has been able to enjoy playing regular first-team football in a pressured environment, excelling at the same time. He has proven that he can perform under pressure, and Magpies fans will surely be excited to see what he can do next season, which is why they must be gutted that they won’t get a glimpse of him over the next two weeks.

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

Kamran Akmal has said he has ironed out the mistakes in his technique and is determined to make a comeback to the national team, even if it as a specialist batsman

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2010Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, has said he has ironed out technical flaws in his glovework and is determined to make a comeback behind the stumps, but is ready to play even as a specialist batsman if required. Kamran made several wicket-keeping errors on Pakistan’s tour of England in August and was dropped for the second Test against the hosts. He played the last two Tests and the one-dayers but was left out of the squad for the series against South Africa.”I’ve addressed some of the basics, especially those things that went wrong for me in England,” Kamran told . “I’ve watched a lot of the videos and we’ve analysed some of the errors. I’ve been working hard with the National Bank coaches and have received sound advice from ex-cricketers like Ijaz Ahmed and Waqar Younis [the national coach].”Kamran, who was replaced by Zulqarnain Haider for the ODIs and younger brother Adnan Akmal for the Tests against South Africa, has scored 530 runs at an average of 75.71 for National Bank in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season, including his maiden first-class double-century against Fasialabad. Pakistan’s selection committee are due to meet soon to choose the squads for the tour of New Zealand, which starts with the first of three Twenty20 internationals on December 23, as well as the preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup, and Kamran is hopeful that his domestic performances will earn him a recall.”When I wasn’t chosen for the series versus South Africa, I decided that I would look to regain my form and confidence in domestic cricket,” he said. “I’ve managed to score plenty of runs and I have been happy with my form behind the stumps.”My dropping was up to the PCB and the selectors, and was out of my control. They choose who they think deserves a chance and I have no problem with that. I am more determined than ever to reclaim my place in the Pakistan side and I am comfortable if the selectors and management want me to play as a keeper or purely as a batsman.”Kamran underwent a minor appendix operation before the UAE tour but was fit when Adnan was picked for the Tests following Haider’s controversial exit from the side. There was some speculation that his exclusion from the squad may have been linked to the spot-fixing scandal. He was sent a notice by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU) after the Nottingham Test seeking information about events related to the 2010 World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in May. Kamran was subsequently cleared for Pakistan selection after he sent an enquiry to the ICC asking if he was under investigation.Akmal admitted it had been a hard few months for him but said he has the mental strength to bounce back. “Being dropped is not an easy thing to take,” he said, “but I took it on the chin and decided that I would use my dropping from the team as a motivational tool. At this level, it’s the mental side of the game that quite often causes mistakes or a loss of form. I needed to be mentally tougher and I’ve worked on that.”

Manchester United are acting on a mega-money bid that would see Napoli striker Victor Osimhen trade the Serie A for the Premier League if it all comes to fruition.

What’s the word?

That is according to La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, who claim that Manchester United “have already come forward” for the 23-year-old striker “with an offer of €100 million” (£84m).

Corriere dello Sport’s report is along the same lines, with the outlet stating that Manchester United and Arsenal “may make a sacrifice (a big bid) that would make him happy.”

The report states that “Napoli would not falter” if they were “faced with an indecent proposal worth €110 million” (£92.5m), but would “let the deal happen.”

United’s “Lion Heart”

If there is one thing that Manchester United need in the side, it is heart. Previously dubbed a “Lion Heart”, Osimhen brings that in abundance.

The 23-year-old has had a tough upbringing. His mother died when he was still a child and his father lost his job three months later. He sold bottled water in the middle of traffic to help his family get by financially.

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It seems as though his work ethic has transitioned into his play style on the pitch, with Osimhen willing to graft from the front in order to win back possession for his side. The Nigeria international’s match average of 10.31 pressures in the attacking third are elite level, as per FBref, and fit perfectly with the pressing system that Erik ten Hag will seek to employ at the Old Trafford side.

Osimhen is enjoying yet another prosperous season at Napoli in Serie A, with his five times in a row.

With two goals) combined.

With his average of 3.89 shots total per 90, he pips that of Erling Haaland’s average of 3.65, with the Norwegian previously linked.

His threat up top could see him become a talismanic figure for the Red Devils, and with his link as a similar player to Erling Haaland, as per FBref, he could well be United’s version of the Dortmund sensation.

In other news: Man United now plotting bid to sign £70m “machine”, he’s a big upgrade on Martial

Arsenal have been handed a late boost in their bid to sign Yves Bissouma this January transfer window…

What’s the word?

The Gunners were linked with a move for the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder earlier this month by The Sunday Mirror (09/01, p71), whilst they have seemingly held a long-term interest in signing him.

Now, according to The Times, the Seagulls are prepared to let him go before Monday night’s deadline for a fee of £50m.

Arsenal have missed out on some key midfield targets this window, including Arthur Melo, whose potential loan move from Juventus fell through, and Bruno Guimaraes, who is set to join top-flight rivals Newcastle United.

Arteta needs him

A new central midfielder must be among the many priorities around the Emirates Stadium but time is quickly running out, which is why a move for a player already based in the Premier League makes the world of sense.

Brighton have made their willingness to conduct business very clear, so the door has opened for Edu Gaspar and his recruitment staff to strike. It would be unforgivable not to.

The Gunners have offloaded as many as five players this month already, all without making a single signing, leaving Arteta light on options in the engine room.

It doesn’t help that Thomas Partey and Mo Elneny have been away on international duty but even with them around, there’s a serious lack of depth in midfield.

Bissouma has already proven his credentials in England and would be a fine addition indeed.

As per WhoScored, he’s averaging a whopping 3.6 tackles per game, which sees him top the entire division in this regard, whilst also managing 1.9 interceptions and 1.7 dribbles per outing, too.

He’s evidently an absolute beast in the heart of the pitch, one capable of not only winning the ball back but also driving it forward into the final third. Perhaps exactly what Arsenal are missing.

Former Aston Villa star Lee Hendrie once said: “I did a chat with myself and Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday a few weeks ago talking about Bissouma, and we highlighted what he actually does. I mean, his stats are absolutely phenomenal, the way he breaks the game up, his forward play.”

By comparison, the erroneous Granit Xhaka – who plays a similar role in north London – averages a lower 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 0.4 dribbles per match, via WhoScored.

Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old Mali international has been described as a “wonderful talent” and likened to Yaya Toure in terms of playing style.

Arteta could really do with Bissouma before tomorrow night’s deadline, so it will certainly be an interesting final 24 hours or so.

AND in other news, “I’m told..”: Reliable journo drops huge transfer claim as Arsenal make Prem star their no.1 target…

Only 4.1 overs were delivered on the opening day in Adelaide but it was enough time for South Australia to lose the opener James Smith

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2010
ScorecardOnly 4.1 overs were delivered on the opening day in Adelaide but it was enough time for South Australia to lose the opener James Smith. The Redbacks were 1 for 3 when play was called off due to rain.South Australia won the toss and Daniel Harris faced the first six deliveries before the first lot of wet weather arrived and sent the players off until after tea. On the resumption Smith edged Michael Hogan behind from the first ball back, but there were only 3.1 overs allowed before the rain returned.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ John Wenham expects the club to ‘get rid’ of Matt Doherty during the summer transfer window. 

The lowdown

Spurs paid £15.1million to sign Doherty from Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The wing-back penned a four-year, £65,400-per-week contract on his arrival in North London.

Doherty was enjoying an extended run in the side under Antonio Conte, starting seven consecutive Premier League matches before sustaining a season-ending knee injury earlier this month.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick said the 30-year-old had been in ‘resurgent’ form, The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare called the injury a ‘big’ blow, and Conte himself confessed it is ‘really bad news’.

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The latest

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham predicted that Spurs will sell Doherty, whom he believes is ‘out of his depth’.

“I would still get rid of him and I think we will,” he said.

“I’m basing this on the game against Man United. He was in a run of good form and as soon as he came up against someone at a decent level he couldn’t handle it.

“We want to go back to the Champions League next season, that’s the level we need to be at.

“He wasn’t good enough for that, he was out of his depth. I think he will be moved on.

“Hopefully this run of form has done well to increase his price. There is an argument for him staying as backup but I just don’t think he’s good enough for where this club wants to be.”

The verdict

It’s true that Doherty did play in some kinder fixtures prior to his injury.

Spurs’ run included games against Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, all of whom currently sit in the league’s bottom seven.

But is Wenham’s assessment of Doherty’s performance in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United fair?

Well, on the one hand, he won a respectable four out of seven duels and completed 31 of the 36 passes he attempted (via SofaScore).

But on the other, it’s fair to say his offensive impact was limited, given that the Irishman failed to create a chance or find a team-mate with any of his three crosses.

In other news, an Italian transfer report raises the prospect of an Antonio Conte reunion at THFC.

England’s women completed a clinical victory over World Twenty20 finalists New Zealand at Chelmsford, wrapping the visitors up for 113 to win the opening Twenty20 international of the tour by 37 runs.

The Bulletin by Liam Brickhill29-Jun-2010
Scorecard
Charlotte Edwards anchored England’s innings with 46•Getty ImagesEngland’s women completed a clinical victory over World Twenty20 finalists New Zealand at Chelmsford, wrapping the visitors up for 113 to win the opening Twenty20 international of the tour by 37 runs.The victory was set up by a solid performance from England’s batting line-up, with captain Charlotte Edwards’ patient 46 anchoring the innings after she won the toss and opted to bat first, and the middle order chipping in for a total of 150 for 5. Edwards then used her slow bowlers extensively, with spin accounting for seven wickets.Despite the early loss of Suzie Bates – who was superbly caught by Lydia Greenway at straight midwicket – New Zealand had looked well set to challenge England’s effort with the bat when captain Aimee Watkins and Sara McGlashan combined in a 47-run stand for the second wicket. But once Watkins departed for 24, caught by Greenway as she tried to clear the deep midwicket boundary, England had their opening and continued to pick up regular wickets.Laura Marsh had opened the bowling, and it was Danielle Hazell’s offspin that accounted for Watkins. she got rid of McGlashan two overs later to spark New Zealand’s demise, as they lost eight wickets for 54 runs.After a subdued Sophie Devine had been bowled by Holly Colvin for 9 from 15 balls, Liz Perry and Nicola Browne briefly threatened a fightback as they both cleared the boundary in a stand of 28 in under four overs. But after they were removed in consecutive balls by impressive youngster Danielle Wyatt with the score on 100, New Zealand quickly crumbled.Anya Shrubsole picked up two wickets in three balls, dismissing Rachel Priest and Lucy Doolan, and Greenway then capped an outstanding day in the field with the run-out of Kate Broadmore to go with her four catches. With the match already lost, Maria Fahey charged down the track at Wyatt only to miss the ball completely, Sarah Taylor whipping the bails off in a flash to end the game.England’s innings had been well set-up by a 68-run stand between Claire Taylor and Edwards at the top of the innings. With Edwards anchoring the innings, Taylor played her shots in an aggressive 32-ball 34.Marsh picked up where Taylor left off, improvising with gusto in a cameo that included a Dilscoop over the ‘keeper’s head and a flat-batted swipe over square leg. Despite the loss of Edwards four runs short of a deserved half-century, Greenway and Wyatt kept up the momentum to boost England’s match-winning total.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes India will win the two-Test series against Australia so long as they bat well

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2010Australia’s strong batting performance on the first day of their match against the Board President’s XI in Mohali had no impact on former India captain Sourav Ganguly’s view as to how the forthcoming Test series will go. Ganguly said, “India will win the series if they bat well.”Regardless of India’s revolving-door bowling attack, Ganguly said the venues of the two-Test series help the home team maximise its spin resources. “Bangalore may not offer assistance early for spinners, but there’s a bit for them later and Mohali has always been a good venue for us”, Ganguly said at the India Today Youth Summit in Delhi this afternoon.He picked Suresh Raina and Cheteshwar Pujara as the leaders of the next generation of Indian batsmen who have it in them to go the distance. Raina, while inexperienced in the Test format, has shown great improvement according to Ganguly. Pujara, picked for the first time in the Indian team to play Australia, has what Ganguly called a “terrific attitude towards batting. I’ve seen him with the [Kolkata] Knight Riders and he can bat all day, he just loves it.”As India’s strong middle-order draws closer to the end of its era, the team, Ganguly said, had plenty of options. “There is talent in Murali Vijay; there is talent in Yuvraj Singh. There are many other young players who have got talent, but it’s what they do with that talent that is important.”Ganguly, who was captain of the Indian team that kicked off India’s now-celebrated rivalry with the Australians in 2001, said his advice to current India captain M S Dhoni did not include making Ricky Ponting wait for the toss, a habit which had incensed Steve Waugh in the 2001 series. “The series is going to be really enjoyable and Ricky’s a great guy”, he said.Ponting and Ganguly were teammates at the Kolkata Knight Riders for the last three years, an association that will most probably end when the IPL hosts its latest player auction later this year. Ganguly said he agreed with Sachin Tendulkar about maintaining and building a team, but thought the IPL had “done well to leave player retention in the franchises hand, to make it their decision”.The most essential ingredient of every franchise’s team, according to Ganguly, was “identity”. He said, “So what happens if Tendulkar doesn’t play for Mumbai? If Tendulkar plays for Bangalore then it looks like something different, doesn’t it?”As one of the speakers in the Youth Summit, Ganguly’s brief speech was followed by an exchange with an audience made up mostly of university students. He spoke openly of the time he took over as India captain in 2000, which is when the match-fixing controversy first broke. “We had some worries once the news came out in the open. We would speak to each other but none of us knew what to do, or to deal with the situation – we’d not been approached or anything.”The six month break between seasons that followed made a difference, Ganguly said. “The BCCI decided to take players off the team and we got a lot of youngsters into the side. So we didn’t have to deal with those issues, but we had it at the back of our mind”.Ganguly said he had not come across any experience to say that matches were fixed “in my entire cricketing life personally, and I can vouch for that … Now I presume those guys, they know whom to approach. It’s not just about Pakistani cricketers but players all around the world. Maybe they can just judge someone’s character and know they might get through to one player and not another”.When he was asked if would ever like to coach the Indian team, Ganguly said, “Yes, not very shortly but at some stage of my life. I would really want to do it because anything connected with Indian cricket is an honour”.Ganguly also replied to a question about a ‘five-point programme’ on coaching that he would give to Greg Chappell, who had a controversial tenure as India coach from 2005 to 2007. “Don’t be too friendly with the media,” Ganguly said, “be honest with the players and don’t talk to them through the media, always work with players, get confidence out of players and stay on the backstage. The captain is the boss of the team.”

A century from Jacques Rudolph set Yorkshire on their way to an eight-runvictory over Derbyshire at Chesterfield to keep them top of Group B in theClydesdale Bank 40

08-Aug-2010
ScorecardA century from Jacques Rudolph set Yorkshire on their way to an eight-runvictory over Derbyshire at Chesterfield to keep them top of Group B in theClydesdale Bank 40.The South African scored 105, sharing a second-wicket stand of 144 in 22 overswith Adam Lyth, who made 91, as Yorkshire made 276 for 6 from their 40overs. Chesney Hughes hit 54 and Wayne Madsen 65 from 57 balls but, despite a latecharge from Graham Wagg (27) in his first game since late April, the Falconscame up short on 268 for 8.Rudolph came into the game with an average of 99.25 in the 40-over competitionand the Falcons may have feared the worst when he was dropped on 16 at slip byChesney Hughes off Tim Groenewald. The South African did not give another chance until he had reached his century as he and Lyth plundered runs after Andrew Gale had become Wagg’s first victim in the 12th over.The Falcons had to wait another 22 overs for their next success and by thenYorkshire were on course for their best 40-over total against Derbyshire. Rudolph reached his fourth 50 in Group B from 52 balls and lifted Garry Park for six over midwicket as he cruised to his second ton in this summer’s CB 40 league.Lyth drove Groenewald into the timber-framed pavilion to bring up the 200 inthe 32nd over, and although Rudolph went for 105 off 107 balls when he failed toclear mid off and Jonathan Bairstow was bowled first ball by Groenewald, AnthonyMcGrath accelerated the scoring in the closing overs.He drove the left-arm spin of Robin Peterson into the sightscreen at the LakeEnd and sent a Wagg delivery into the spectators behind the ropes at extra coveras Yorkshire passed the 248 for 5 they made at Chesterfield in 1979. Lyth was finally caught at deep midwicket going for his third six, but McGrath’s unbeaten 31 from 17 balls left Derbyshire with a tough chase and they made a dreadful start when Chris Rogers was run out by a direct hit from Lyth in the second over.But Hughes reeled off some silky strokes to keep his side in the hunt and alsopulled Ajmal Shahzad for six as he and Peterson took the Falcons past 50 beforePeterson was caught at slip driving at Tim Bresnan. Hughes was looking dangerous, but after completing a 43-ball fifty he drove Steve Patterson to cover.Madsen and Wes Durston added 74 in 11 overs to keep the game alive beforeMcGrath broke the stand with his second ball when Durston cut him low to point. The Falcons went into the last 10 overs needing 93 but accurate bowling backed up by sharp fielding built up pressure which forced Madsen into a switch hit into the hands of point.Derbyshire needed 56 off the last five overs and although Wagg smashed anunbeaten 27 off 18 balls, Yorkshire held their nerve to clinch their seventhvictory and stay on course for a semi-final place.