REPORT & INTERVIEW | Falcons tie Queen’s Park thriller

Derbyshire Falcons maintained their remarkable unbeaten T20 run against Yorkshire at Chesterfield with a thrilling tie.

Falcons looked set for a ninth consecutive win over Yorkshire at Queen’s Park after posting 215 for 9 only for Matthew Revis to take his side to the brink of victory with an unbeaten 69 from 32 balls.

Yorkshire needed 18 off the last over from Akif Javed and although Revis hit two sixes, he could only manage a single off the final ball as the visitors finished on 215 for 8.

Wayne Madsen top scored with 62 from 33 balls and Martin Andersson made 51 off 27 to take the Falcons to the highest T20 score at Chesterfield.

Yorkshire lost Jonny Bairstow for a duck and despite 46 from 21 balls by Will Luxton, were sinking until Revis almost pulled off what would have been a sensational victory.

Although the Falcons lost skipper Aneurin Donald in the second over, 73 came from the powerplay.

Yousaf Bin Naeem played well on his T20 debut before he was caught behind off Hassan Ali while Andersson placed the ball impressively on both sides of the wicket.

Andersson reached his 50 from 25 balls and on a difficult ground to defend, Yorkshire were struggling to impose any control.

Madsen and Andersson took four fours from Dan Moriarty’s second over which cost 18 as the Falcons surged to 116 for 2 after 10 overs.

Andrew Tye checked Falcons progress by having Andersson caught at mid off and Matthew Montgomery taken at deep mid-wicket.

But five fours came from Moeen Ali’s first over with Madsen moving to 50 from 27 balls. Revis removed him with a slower ball but Ross Whiteley’s 36 from 20 balls took the Falcons past 200.

Tight bowling meant only 17 came off the last three but Yorkshire needed to pull off a record T20 run chase against Derbyshire.

They started badly, losing Bairstow to the second ball, and Adam Lyth went in the fourth over when he miscued Akif Javed to mid off.

Luxton smashed four sixes but sliced Nick Potts to cover in the last over of the powerplay with Yorkshire 53 for 3.

Pakistan spinner Sufyan Moqim struck in his second over when Sam Whiteman edged a pull into his stumps and when Moeen Ali went in the 12th over, Yorkshire looked down and out at 95 for 5.

Faheem Ashraf and Revis gave them renewed hope with 21 coming from an Andersson over only for Ben Aitchison to take three wickets in the 17th over.

Revis kept clearing the ropes but could not quite take the White Rose to a first T20 win at Chesterfield since 2014.