Durston top scores in Derbyshire CCC win

After Durston won the toss and elected to bat first on Nursery Pitch Two at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium complex, Derbyshire lost early wickets to slip to 65-3 after 17 overs at the first drinks break.

Alex Hughes and Tom Poynton put on 38 for the fourth wicket before the former was out for 18, having hit one six in his 24-ball innings. Poynton was eventually out for 38 at almost a-run-a-ball before Greg Cork was sixth man out for 20.

With the score on 140-6, Durston and Milnes came together and put on the only century stand of the match to put Derbyshire into a commanding position. Milnes scored 48 from 54 balls and hit three fours and two sixes and departed the crease having helped Durston get his team up and beyond 250.

Having already passed his half-century, Durston continued to score quickly but was bowled by the 70th ball he faced after scoring 74 from 70 balls with eight fours and a six.

Derbyshire’s tail could not add much to the score but, after 12 penalty runs were added on due to a slow over rate, the Falcons set Danube Lions 293 to win, having been bowled out for 280.

The defence of 293 got off to the perfect start with Ben Cotton (3-43) taking a wicket with the first ball of the innings before going on to take another two quick wickets to leave the Lions struggling on 31-3 in the 7th over.

The following two wickets fell to Greg Cork (2-35), including the wicket of Younis who had played well for his 42, and then Tony Palladino (2-16) picked up his first of the game, caught by Harry White, to leave Danube on 120-6 just past the halfway stage of the innings.

Palladino’s second wicket followed shortly after, also caught by White, before the 19-year-old took a stunning catch on the boundary to give Wayne Madsen (3-12) his first wicket, before claiming his second shortly after to leave Danube nine down on 130.

Danube, however, delayed the Derbyshire victory with a last wicket stand of 93, before finally being dismissed for 223.

Derbyshire will compete in the final game of the Briggs of Burton Pre-Season Tour tomorrow in a Twenty20 fixture versus Leicestershire; 6.30am GMT start.

Derbyshire CCC Membership for 2016 is on sale. Purchase online at derbyshireccc.com, in person at The 3aaa County Ground or by calling 0871 350 1870.