Durston stars in Derbyshire win

Derbyshire 253 for 5 beat Essex 168 by 85 runs
Scorecard

Wes Durston was the star turn as Derbyshire thrashed Essex by 85 runs in their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash at Colchester. His unbeaten innings of 72 from 62 deliveries enabled the visitors to post a total of 253 for 5, and he then he pulled off a brilliant catch on the long-on boundary to remove Ryan ten Doeschate.

The departure of ten Doeschate, fourth out with the total at 138, pointed the way to a swift decline of the Essex innings - they were bowled out for 168 in the 33rd over. Ten Doeschate was the first of seven wickets to fall in the space of 42 balls for the addition of just 30 runs.

Durston's positive approach brought him eight fours and a six, and provided much needed momentum to Derbyshire's innings after they had needed 24 overs to move into three figures. He showed in a partnership of 71 in nine overs for the fourth wicket with Wayne Madsen, whose 35 came from 25 balls before he was trapped leg before wicket by David Masters.

Durston and Graham Wagg then cut loose to plunder an unbeaten 59 for the sixth wicket from only 28 balls. Wagg's contribution was 36 from 15 balls, with the aid of three sixes and three fours. Chris Wright was the bowler to suffer most, his final two overs costing 34.

Earlier Chesney Hughes and Greg Smith shared in a second wicket stand of 69 after Chris Rogers had been caught at slip in the first over of the match. Hughes was eventually bowled by Danish Kaneria for 45 from 64 balls while Smith, whose first 20 scoring strokes were all singles, drove ten Doeschate to mid-off when four short of his half-century. His innings spanned 66 deliveries.

When Essex replied, Mark Pettini and Ravi Bopara were just threatening to move up a gear when they were each dismissed in the 20s. Grant Flower and Matt Walker put together a half-century stand for the third wicket but once Walker was superbly run out for 32 by Smith's direct throw from backward square leg, Essex lost their way.

Robin Petersen and Jake Needham each picked up three wickets at a cost of 38 and 36 respectively, while Mark Footitt returned figures of 2 for 28 as Essex were left reflecting on a defeat which dealt their hopes of reaching the later stages of the competition a severe blow.