Cricket: Derbyshire outplay Lancashire to win by 100 runs

May 23 2008 by Peter Guy, Liverpool Daily Post

DERBYSHIRE boosted their chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy when they outplayed Lancashire at Derby to win by 100 runs.

The Lightning never looked like reaching a challenging target of 289 once Stuart Law and Mohammad Yousuf fell in the space of four balls and there were 11.5 overs to spare when Derbyshire celebrated their first victory over Lancashire in the history of the competition which began life as the Gillette Cup.

The home side’s total of 288 for five was built around an opening stand of 150 between Chris Rogers, who made 94, and Steve Stubbings, who batted through the 50 overs for his 95.

Derbyshire also bowled impressively to record a third victory in the North Division and they can take a big stride towards the last eight if they beat Yorkshire on Sunday.

They will have every chance of avenging their defeat at Headingley last month if they repeat the performance that was too good for a Lancashire side who badly missed the experience of Glen Chapple and former Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork.

Although England paceman Sajid Mahmood produced a testing opening spell on a wicket which had pace and bounce, the rest of the bowling lacked accuracy and Rogers and Stubbings took full advantage.

Lancashire were facing humiliation when Luke Sutton played on to Lungley in the 20th over and although 54 off 46 balls from Francois Du Plessis and some lusty hitting from Gary Keedy restored some pride, it could not prevent a heavy defeat.