Cork leads Derbyshire to victory

By Ananova
July 27 2002

Dominic Cork led from the front as Derbyshire boosted their Frizzell County Championship promotion hopes with a 177-run win against Northamptonshire at Northampton.

Cork first blasted a quickfire 80 to help boost Derbyshire's overall lead to 460. Then he hastened the hosts' demise by grabbing a couple of crucial wickets - including that of Mike Hussey.

Northamptonshire never seriously threatened to get anywhere near the victory target although a stubborn seventh-wicket stand of 75 by Tony Penberthy (62) and Tobin Bailey threatened to take the game into the final day.

Cork was unbeaten on 20 as Derbyshire resumed their second innings on 188 for six - 366 ahead - and the visitors added a further 94 in less than 90 minutes to set the hosts an improbable victory target.

Overnight batsman Steve Selwood (32) and wicketkeeper Karl Krikken (three) departed fairly quickly - but Cork found an ally in Mohammad Ali (12) and together they added 65 for the ninth wicket.

Cork was ninth out for 80 from just 81 balls when he went for one big hit too many off spinner Jason Brown and was well caught by Darren Cousins at long-off. The innings ended when Ali went for a big drive off Brown and was caught at deep mid-off by Cousins.

Northamptonshire lost the wicket of Hussey to the first ball of their reply. He tried to pull a short ball from Cork but failed to keep his shot down and was well caught by Tom Lungley at square leg.

New batsman David Sales boldly went for his shots but was dismissed with the total on 47 just before lunch when a loose drive saw him caught at second slip by Michael Di Venuto off left-arm seamer Kevin Dean for 29.

Derbyshire continued to make steady inroads throughout the afternoon session and were within sight of victory after reducing Northamptonshire to 171 for six at tea. Gerry Brophy (eight) played all around a good-length ball from Cork to be trapped leg before, opener Mal Loye (34) fell in the same fashion after Dean nipped one back off the seam and Jeff Cook (21) was caught at point by Lungley attempting an ambitious square drive off Dean.

The hosts did not help their cause when Swann (12) was run out with the total on 143. Penberthy and Bailey revived the innings but the former's dismissal shortly after tea virtually signalled the end for Northamptonshire. With the total on 218, he was deceived by a delivery from Lian Wharton and bowled.

Wharton then trapped Carl Greenidge leg before for a duck and Cousins followed for just a single, caught at slip by Di Venuto off Ali. Bailey and last man Brown hit out to put on 42 for the final wicket but Ali sealed victory by bowling Brown for 15.

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