1:48 AM IST, 9:18 PM Local Time: An extraordinary start to the opening day fixture of T20 Blast 2026. Durham was down and out but they clawed their way back into this game by picking up regular wickets. An excellent last over from Matt Potts ensured that they defeated Derbyshire Falcons by six runs. Matthew Montgomery played an unbeaten knock of 74 runs from 45 balls but he couldn't take Falcons over the finish line.
Batting first, Durham skipper Alex Lees led from the front by scoring a quickfire half-century. Colin Ackermann (36) and Ollie Robinson (48) chipped in with some late hitting. All this effort ensured that Durham posted a healthy total of 203/8 in their 20 overs.
Derbyshire spinner Jack Morley picked up three scalps while Nick Potts and Ben Aitchison took two wickets apiece.
In reply, Derbyshire started on a bang with skipper Aneurin Donald scoring multiple boundaries in the very first over. However, his stay was short-lived as he departed after scoring 19 off 6 balls. After him, other Falcons batters came in, scored boundaries and went early.
They went in with a single-minded approach of attacking on every delivery. However, Montgomery and Ross Whiteley posted a 70-run stand for the fourth wicket. Later, Whiteley got dismissed short of a half-century at 45 (28).
After that, Montgomery stayed at one end and scored regular boundaries but no other batter supported him. In the final over, Falcons needed 18 runs.
Montgomery scored boundaries on the first two deliveries but he failed to score on the final three balls, which were almost block-hole.
In the end, Derbyshire managed 197/8 and lost by six runs.
Durham spinner Callum Parkinson was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/38. Medium-pacer Ben Raine bowled a brilliant spell by taking 2/32 at this flat deck.