Warwickshire kept up their bid for promotion from Division 2 of the National
League by defeating Derbyshire by 45 runs on their own ground. They did so
with a comparatively modest total of 150-8 in 45 overs of struggle on a slow
pitch in which their hosts were bowled out with 25 balls over.
Dougie Brown ripped through the batting with three wickets in nine balls - Michael Di Venuto, one of his victims, is usually an aggressive batsman but took 17 overs over his 15 runs.
Batting first Warwickshire, themselves, were in trouble against Kevin Dean,
returning from a three-week lay-off with a groin injury,who dismissed three
batsmen in the first six overs. Dominic Ostler (27) and Brown (24) stemmed
the decline. The lowly total assumed a different aspect when Ed Giddins
bowled Luke Sutton with only three runs to Derbyshire's credit.
Dominic Cook was missed at first slip and slammed into the bowling of Welch until to be bowled by Giddins. Di Venuto and Steve Stubbings (21 from 52 balls) could not shake the grip the bowlers had secured. Off-spinner Simon Lacey, hurt in practice, was added to Derbyshire's long list of injuries.