Derbyshire set to return to winning ways in Blast

T20 Blast
Sky Sports 2, 5.30pm Wednesday

Derbyshire are off to a strong start in the T20 Blast Northern Group, winning two of their first three matches, and can defy the market by defeating favourites Worcestershire at New Road.

Worcestershire are odds-on to prevail but are in the lower reaches of the table after home defeats to Warwickshire by eight wickets and to Leicestershire by five wickets.

They batted first on both occasions but lost early wickets and failed to set big enough targets.

Worcestershire's top order has failed to fire. None of their top five passed 20 in the loss to Warwickshire and there were too many failures against Leicestershire with opener Joe Clarke and number five Joe Leach registering ducks and number three Brett D'Oliveira dismissed for two.

Derbyshire have looked much more solid with bat and ball.

They executed a textbook run-chase in their opening match away to T20 Blast champions Northants (making 180-3) and showed off their bowling and fielding skills in a three-run victory at home to Yorkshire, restricting the visitors to 162-7.

Derbyshire's winning streak was ended by a five-wicket loss to Lancashire at Old Trafford on Sunday but they have looked well suited to the shortest format of the game and can get back to winning ways.

England's women are through to the World Cup final after defeating South Africa by two wickets in a close contest in Bristol yesterday.

Sarah Taylor top-scored for England with 54 as the host nation made 221-8 – chasing down South Africa's 218-run target with just two balls to spare.

England's opponents in Sunday's Lord's final will be revealed on Thursday when India take on Australia in Derby.

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Derbyshire
1pt Evs general