Derbyshire 222 (Hughes 75, Hutton 5-59) and 234 for 9 (Madsen 62, Hosein 54*) beat Northamptonshire 255 (Zaib 57, Curran 51, Hughes 4-57) and 199 (Vasconcelos 62, Viljoen 4-51) by one wicket
Scorecard
Harvey Hosein's gutsy fifty clawed Derbyshire to a thrilling one-wicket victory over Northamptonshire on an afternoon that ebbed and flowed at Wantage Road.
Set 233 to win, Derbyshire were in control at 94 for 1 through Wayne Madsen and Tom Lace but lost 4 for 24 in nine overs after lunch. Hosein then got together first with Alex Hughes and then Anuj Dal to reduce the target to 37 needed with four wickets in hand.
But Luke Procter conjured up two wickets in two overs and when Nathan Buck cleaned up No. 10 Tony Palladino, Derbyshire needed nine runs with only one wicket in hand. Hosein dived across the off stump to paddle-sweep Ben Sanderson for four and worked singles to bring the target to within one boundary.
Buck had one delivery at No. 11 Ravi Rampaul, who touched him off his hip to fine leg for four to seal a memorable victory with Hosein the hero, unbeaten on 54.
It was the eighth time in their history that Derbyshire won by one wicket and the tenth time Northants have lost by the same margin.
The day began in brilliant sunshine and a perfect start for the visitors as Palladino had Buck well caught by Gary Wilson at slip to the fourth ball of the day before he bowled Sanderson second ball to dismiss Northants for 199, adding only one run to their overnight total, leaving Derbyshire 233 to win in 93 overs.
The chase got off to a poor start as Billy Godleman was bowled by Sanderson second ball, but Lace and Madsen managed to get through the rest of the session where a wicket looked likely every ball. But having survived countless plays and misses and a huge appeal each for lbw, the pair steered Derbyshire into a commanding position after lunch.
Finally Northants broke through as Brett Hutton took out Tom Lace's off stump after a stand of 94 in 37.2 overs and it prompted a collapse that left Derbyshire needing 111 with five wickets in hand and suddenly the home side were favourites.
Sanderson was a big part of the turnaround, sending down 13 overs unchanged from the Wantage Road End after lunch, bowling three maidens and taking 2 for 21 - eventually trapping Madsen lbw for 62 and getting one to bounce on Matt Critchley and take the glove to be well held down low by Ricardo Vasconcelos at third slip. Wilson also ran himself out, sent back trying to take a single to mid-on that was never available.
Enter Hosein, who helped add 36 for the sixth wicket to ease the tension before Hughes was caught well by Richard Levi at second slip for 28 in the second over after tea. Dal worked the target down further with Hosein but he was then brilliantly yorked by Procter who pinned Hardus Viljoen lbw in his next over.
Palladino helped narrow the target into single figures but it took Rampaul, who survived one more play and miss against Sanderson, to flick the winning runs.
