Smith heroics are not enough as Derbyshire fall short in run chase (with audio)

NOT even more heroics from their specialist Yorkshire tormentor, Greg Smith, was enough for Derbyshire this time.

The 25-year-old right-hander followed up his unbeaten 100 with another hard-hitting 68 yesterday at Chesterfield but the Phantoms were beaten by 11-runs in the Twenty20 Cup.

The needless concession of Smith's wicket at the beginning of the 13th over was to prove a telling moment in the contest, though it would be unjust to blame a man whose 42-ball salvo had given his side such a strong chance of overcoming a testing target of 170.

Anthony McGrath, another batsman with a splendid record in matches between these counties, carried Yorkshire to that total with an excellent 72 not out, made off 42 balls with three fours and six sixes.

It was a lesson in clean, straight hitting and his demolition of the Derbyshire slower bowlers in the second half of the innings was the difference between the teams. The fact that McGrath was still there at the end, helping Yorkshire add 86 off the last seven overs, was also important.

Derbyshire needed Smith to stay after he had flayed the bowling for 10 fours and a six and it was a frustrating end from him as he set off at full pelt from the non-striker's end, even though Wavell Hinds had cut the ball straight to Matthew Hoggard at backward point, and was run out by a mile by a throw to the bowler.

That made it 91-2 and, by the end of an eventful over, Yorkshire had lost spinner David Wainwright with a cut left hand as he tried to stop a fierce Rikki Clarke drive and Derbyshire lost Hinds as he skied a pull at replacement bowler Craig White and was caught at fine leg.

Yet, at the end of that 13th over, the match was still in Derbyshire's range at 97-3, with 73 needed off seven overs.

Unfortunately, no batsman who followed Smith could make anything like as firm an impact.

Clarke aimed a huge drive at Richard Pyrah and was caught at third man for two, Jamie Pipe's brief flourish for 17 ended with a catch at long off and John Sadler was caught at extra cover before he had got going.

It came down to 36 off the final two overs and 25 off the last and that was too much.

McGrath's contribution was the telling one but Derbyshire had bowled well in the first 11 overs of the Yorkshire innings, after the away side had won the toss.

Opener Andrew Gale hit 25 and Michael Vaughan, who was missing when his team came out to field because of a stiff neck, added a useful 31.

But Yorkshire were 67-3 when Vaughan was caught at deep midwicket in the 11th over and in danger of falling short, as Charl Langeveldt, Graham Wagg and Clarke bowled tidily.

After 13, it was 83-4, with Jacques Rudolph gone for five, but McGrath decided to cut loose and, when he does, he is an awesome foe.

Two overs from off-spinner Jake Needham cost 34 and an over in between from Nayan Doshi went for 14 – a blast of 49 runs in three overs that had Derbyshire rocking.

The last four overs were not quite in the same league, as the quicker bowlers restored order, but the damage had been done and the Phantoms are now struggling to stay in the competition.