DERBYSHIRE at last found the Twenty20 Cup winning formula at the County Ground at the third attempt.

It involved bowling first in a howling gale at apathetic opposition. The combination kept the Phantoms interested in the competition with a seven-wicket success against Leicestershire but it was hardly a contest to set the pulses racing.

After failing to hit the right pace to set a challenging total when they batted first in their previous two games at Derby, opting for a chase when captain Rikki Clarke won the toss was the sensible choice.

A strong cross-field wind made the type of batting normally associated with Twenty20 cricket even more hazardous on a slow wicket.

Leicestershire clearly did not fancy the task. After losing all six of their group matches so far, they approached it with all the enthusiasm of a reluctant office boy faced with a huge backlog of filing.

Completely devoid of any urgency, the Foxes eventually made it to 118-6, with their opening batsman, HD Ackerman, setting the tone.

The South African did stir himself sufficiently to hit six fours but he was otherwise quite content to nudge the singles, lean on his bat at the non-striker's end and walk off at the end with a handy little 49 not out against his name.

To bat through the innings in a Twenty20 match and not even get a 50 really must take some doing.

The younger and more willing James Taylor was the only other Leicestershire batsman to put up a decent score, as he made 22 off 21 balls with a six and a four in a fifth-wicket stand of 44 with Ackerman.

Credit must go to Derbyshire for a good bowling performance, with Wavell Hinds taking top honours this time.

The West Indian's medium pace wobble in the wind brought him 2-14 in four overs as he tempted Boeta Dippenaar into a drive straight to long on and then had James Allenby caught at cover off a mistimed swipe.

There was, however, a concern for Derbyshire, with Charl Langeveldt only able to bowl two overs, taking 1-8, because of a sore knee that is likely to keep him out of today's match at Old Trafford.

That is less of an issue than the possibility he may not be fit for the return to Championship cricket next weekend.

The Phantoms were able to stroll to their target, in much the same way as Lancashire and Notts had in the two previous matches at the County Ground.

Greg Smith was caught at mid off going for the big drive off Garnet Kruger and Dominic Telo was brought to a halt again just when he seemed set to get going, bowled by Nadeem Malik for 21.

A stand of 65 between Hinds and Clarke dispelled any doubt about the outcome.

It was good to see the skipper hitting the ball hard to the boundary after a disappointing competition with the bat and though he was bowled by Sam Cliff driving, his 35 off 28 balls with five fours and a six was welcome.

So too was Hinds' unbeaten 42, though he has had a fairly good Twenty20. His runs came off 46 balls with two fours and a six.

It was left to Jamie Pipe to strike successive boundaries to complete the victory with two overs to spare and Derbyshire must hope Leicestershire show as little appetite for the return on Friday. Lancashire today and Durham on Wednesday may be more up for the battle.