George is final over hero in Falcons’ win

GEORGE Scrimshaw bowled a superb final over to give Derbyshire Falcons a dramatic five-run victory over Lancashire Lightning in Friday night’s Vitality Blast game.

The fast bowler had gone for 48 from his first three overs but conceded only five off his last as the North Group leaders came up short on 183-5, chasing 189.

Tim David had hit an unbeaten 42 off 23 balls but could only watch from the other end as Scrimshaw – entrusted with the key over by captain Sham Masood – kept his nerve.

Masood, with 75 from 50 balls, and

Wayne Madsen, 70 off 30 added 99 for the third as the Falcons made 188-8 but Steven Croft’s 47 from 29 balls had made Lancashire favourites until Scrimshaw had the final word.

Scrimshaw said: “I backed myself to bowl a fuller length and wanted to cramp them up for room and, with that pace, it was going to be hard to get away.

“A lot was going through my mind when we went into the huddle. I thought ‘I want that over’ and luckily my captain came to me and said ‘I’ll back you’ and Wayne Madsen said ‘you’ll win us this game.’

“I didn’t know how I was going to win the game but he was right and I’m absolutely delighted that I’ve pulled it off.

“I went for a lot of runs in the last game. I wanted to start with a clean slate but didn’t start great and in the back of my mind I had to keep going.

“I had that support from the team which was great because otherwise my head could have been in a different place and I’m so happy they had that faith in me.”

Lancashire

Lightning captain

Dane Vilas added: “It’s obviously very disappointing we didn’t get over the line but that’s the nature of T20 cricket, these things happen. He (Scrimshaw) bowled a great over, he really hit hard lengths. To have a player of Tim’s calibre watching those five balls was tough but we just couldn’t get him on strike.”