Hales steers Notts to derby victory

Alex Hales set up Nottinghamshire for victory over Derbyshire with 63 from 32 balls at Derby. Hales' quick-fire innings helped his side claim victory by five wickets with 19 balls remaining.

Derbyshire captain Will Madsen won the toss and chose to bat, and it looked to have been a wise decision as his side amassed a total of 164 for 7 from their 20 overs.

But Hales led from the front for Notts, who hit 11 boundaries and one maximum in a rapid opening burst before he was bowled by Alex Hughes.

He was ably assisted by Michael Lumb, with 21, and Riki Wessels, 26, with Steven Mullaney hitting the winning runs with a boundary off the bowling of Tony Palladino.

Earlier, Marcus North had posted the highest knock of Derbyshire's innings with 57 from 47 balls, which included six fours, while Madsen scored 36 and Tim Groenewald chipped in with 19 from seven balls at the death.

Harry Gurney took 2 for 24 - the pick of the Notts bowlers - accounting for opener Stephen Moore caught and bowled from the first delivery of the match, with wicketkeeper Gareth Cross his other victim.

Samit Patel and Andy Carter were also in the wickets with two each and Ajmal Shazad dismissing No. 3 Tom Knight for six.

Notts' chase was led by Hales. His departure had left Notts four down for 112, following the dismissals of Lumb, James Taylor and Patel, but Wessels and Mullaney saw the visitors over the line, with Chris Read also unbeaten at the death with 7.

It was a difficult night for Derbyshire's bowlers, with 25 extras added to Notts' total and the best figures of the night coming from Mark Footitt's four overs, as he took figures of 2 for 33.