Birch blasts Derbyshire to victory

Dan Birch's career-best 76 helped Derbyshire overhaul a target of 223 with ease

Dan Birch hit four sixes in a one-day best 76 to help Derbyshire to an easy victory in their NatWest Pro40 encounter with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Phantoms captain Rikki Clarke won the toss and put Northants in to bat, his side restricting them to 222 for seven, the highlight of which was a fantastic 96 not out from David Sales.

The visitors easily reached their target, thanks mainly to Birch’s innings, taking advantage of an injury-hit Steelbacks attack to win by four wickets.

Clarke’s decision to field looked to be a good one when Graham Wagg bowled Stephen Peters for two in the third over.

Niall O’Brien soon followed, run out by Wagg for six, and when Rob White was bowled by Ian Hunter for one, Northants where in real trouble.

Things got worse for the hosts as they slumped to 35 for four, Riki Wessels top-edging Hunter to Jonathan Clare when on seven.

Lance Klusener thumped visiting captain Clarke and Hunter for fours as he and Sales attempted to pull their side from danger.

The brilliant Hunter fought back to claim his third wicket as he tempted Klusener to edge one to the waiting Chris Rogers at first slip, the South African departing for nine.

Mark Nelson was lucky to survive when he edged Clarke towards Rogers, but the former Northants player was unable to hold on to the chance.

Nayan Doshi dropped the simplest of catches when Sales sliced one down to third man with the ball rolling over the boundary for four.

Nelson’s innings came to an end on 19 when Jamie Pipe stumped him after he came down the wicket to Wavell Hinds.

Sales made Doshi pay, moving to 50 in 84 balls as he and captain Nicky Boje piled on the runs.

Boje hit Clare for six as he ran up a quickfire 59 before the same bowler had him caught by Clarke.

Derbyshire made a solid start in reply before Johan van der Wath bowled Rogers for 16.

Hinds and Birch made 111 as the batsmen dominated, only for Hinds to fall to Hall, superbly caught behind by O’Brien for 45.

Birch’s innings came to an end when he was run out but it was too little too late for Northants.

Dominic Telo’s dismissal, bowled by Nelson for 39, did little to dent the Phantoms’ progress as Greg Smith (35 not out) and captain Clarke led the visitors to victory with five overs remaining.