REPORT & INTERVIEW | Donald leads the way for Falcons in East Midlands Derby day victory

Aneurin Donald inspired a destructive batting display which took Derbyshire Falcons to a 23 run victory  over local rivals Notts Outlaws in the Vitality Blast North Group match at The Central Co-op County Ground.

Donald hit eight sixes in his 84 from 31 balls and Martin Andersson followed up his half century and six wickets at Leicester on Wednesday with five sixes in an unbeaten 69 off 43.

The Falcons raced to 234 for 4, their highest T20 score, with 16 sixes in the innings another Derbyshire record.

On a night of batting pyrotechnics,Tom Moores gave the Outlaws hope with seven sixes in an unbeaten 75 from 34 balls and Jack Haynes scored 45 off 26, but they came up short on 211 for 6.

Donald backed up his decision to bowl first by surging to a 20 ball 50 which included four sixes.

Olly Stone’s first over went for 32, a Derbyshire record in any format, as the Falcons motored to 82 for 0 at the end of the powerplay.

The Outlaws bowlers were dispatched to all parts with Donald launching Benny Howell for two more maximums in the 7th over which cost 21.

Donald hit George Linde for another six but swung the next ball into the hands of deep midwicket to end a stand of 112 from 48 balls with Andersson.

The Falcons had 128 on the board after 10 overs but Howell hit back by having Caleb Jewell caught in the deep.

After the dust had settled from firestorm Donald, the Outlaws exerted a measure of control by restricting the Falcons to 32 from four overs but Andersson still completed his third consecutive 50 from 35 balls.

Linde removed Wayne Madsen for 24 but that brought in Ross Whiteley who smashed 33 off 16 balls before Andersson hoisted Mohammad Ali onto the pavilion roof in the 19th over.

Andersson drilled Linde for two more sixes to take the Falcons past their previous highest T20 score of 231 for 4 against Leicestershire in 2023.

It was the second time in three days the Falcons had posted 230 or more which set the Outlaws a challenging chase

They were soon struggling with skipper Joe Clarke caught behind off Ben Aitchison in the fourth over before George Munsey went trying to ramp Akif Javed..

Freddie McCann was well caught on the deep midwicket boundary with the Outlaws hopes fading at 42 for 3 after the powerplay

With the rate soaring, Haynes sliced Andersson to cover but Moores and Linde added 68 from 32 balls before the latter holed out off Nick Potts.

Moores was felled by a Javed short ball but although he recovered to hit two more sixes, a Falcons win was never really in doubt.