Twenty20 Report

4 games were played today as the Twenty20 Cup nears the exciting phase of the Group stages.

Lancashire vs Derbyshire

Lancashire's top order batting again failed miserably as Derbyshire bowled them out for a mere 91, captain Dominic Cork not even be called upon to turn his arm over. Former England leg-spinner Chris Schofield top-scored with 27 from 28 balls as Dominic Hewson ripped out the otp order to finish with 4-18 from his allotment of overs, before Nathan Dumelow knocked over the tail to finish with 3-8.

With such a low target, Derbyshire were always favourites, and although Glen Chapple picked up 2 early wickets, Michael di Venuto was not to be denied, as he finished with an unbeaten run a ball 52, wicketkeeper Luke Sutton helping him guide the side home with 7 wickets and more than 4 overs to spare.

Nottinghamshire vs. Leicestershire

Nottinghamshire posted a competitive total on batting first, Guy Welton opening up with 39 from 33 balls and Kevin Pietersen smashing 21 from 11 before Virender Sehwag came on and bowled superbly to concede just 19 from his 4 overs as well as dismissing Welton and Bilal Shafayat as the innings closed on 158-5.

Sehwag was soon in action with the bat, as he got Leicestershire off to a quick start, but the loss of Darren Stevens and Paul Nixon cheaply saw the side reduced to 44-3. Enter Darren Maddy, who scored 53 from 32 balls to put his side back in the hunt, but all the bowlers picked up wickets as the team collapsed to 150-9. Damian Brandy and Jamie Grove kept their cool though to add the final 9 runs, winnig the match off the final ball.

Somerset vs. Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire's bowling was superb, with no less than 3 bowlers bowling their overs for less than 20 apiece, spearheaded by Martyn Ball's 1-11, as only Ian Blackwell with 29 from 25 balls and number 10 Steffan Jones with an unbeaten 24 from 21 balls performed. Mike Lewis and Mark Alleyne ripped out the top order to reduce them to 43-5 and from then on it was damage limitation as they limped to 119-9 in the full 20 overs.

In reply, Gloucestershire were destructive, as in just 36 minutes and 10.2 overs, Craig Spearman with 75 from 34 balls, and Ian Harvey with 43 from 28 knocked off the runs to record the first 10 wicket victory in Twenty20 history. 7 bowlers were empoyed by Somerset, the worst treated being Wesley Durston, whose off spin was clattered for 24 runs in one over.

Sussex vs. Essex

Robin Martin-Jenkins was in fine form with the bat, as Sussex posted a daunting 180-6 from their 20 overs. The all-rounder hit 56 from 36 balls, and was well supported by Murray Goodwin, who notched 38 from 33 balls.

Essex ran them very close though, as Andy Flower and Ronnie Irani opened up with a stand of 67 before Irani fell for 39 from 29 balls. Flower shrugged off that loss as he went on to score 71 from 54 balls, but alas it wasn't quite enough, as Jason Lewry bowled superbly to pick up 2-23 from his 4 overs, including the wicket of Flower. Essex ending up 7 short on 173-4.

LANCASHIRE 91a/o (Schofield 27, Hewson 4-18, Dumelow 3-8)
DERBYSHIRE 95-3 (Di Venuto 52*, Chapple 2-17)

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 158-5 (Welton 39, Shafayat 28, Sehwag 2-19)
LEICESTERSHIRE 159-9 (Maddy 53, Hodge 27, Sehwag 26, Logan 2-20, Pietersen 2-28, Clough 2-30, Franks 2-31)

SOMERSET 119-9 (Blackwell 29, Smith 2-14, Alleyne 2-33, Lewis 2-39)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE 120-0 (Spearman 75*, Harvey 43*)

SUSSEX 180-6 (Martin-Jenkins 56*, Goodwin 38, Napier 2-28, Dakin 2-35)
ESSEX 173-4 (Flower 71, Irani 39, Lewry 2-23)

Posted by Marc