With their last Vitality Blast 2025 game in mind, Derbyshire are in good spirits after a convincing 46-run win over Nottinghamshire. They have restored their confidence, and some players are beginning to find form towards the death overs and are now fully focused on the North Group, again facing Leicestershire, but Derbyshire are better placed, having restored some belief following the victory at Trent Bridge. Now, Derbyshire is eager to gain traction and rise up the table.
Openers – Who Can Set the Stadium on Fire?

That 73 off 34 balls? Enough to make Aneurin Donald a no-brainer for the starting lineup. Not intimidating in terms of stature, his ability to take advantage of the powerplay, strike more than 200, and hit the ball cleanly over the infield means that all bowlers would find him hard to bowl to. Donald set the tone in the last match, and Derbyshire will hope for a repeat performance with another brutal powerplay.
Caleb Jewell, who scored a steady 18 of 16 balls, will hopefully partner with Donald. Jewell will not demolish bowlers like Donald, but he offers a left-hand option and can run well between the wickets and rotate the strike. Jewell’s job will be simple. At the risk of accentuating gender stereotypes, Jewell’s role will be to hold one end and allow Donald to go hard early.
Middle Order – The Stabilizers

In the middle order, Brooke Guest continues to demonstrate why he is such a valuable asset to have in Derbyshire’s batting line-up. His 37 not out off 24 balls was a display of calculated aggression where he made 6 boundaries without playing an unnecessary shot. The way he played through the middle overs after an unplanned mini-collapse was very good, showing he can be able to anchor and finish innings—a skill that is increasingly rare in T20 cricket.
Ross Whiteley, batting at seven, then provided a brutally entertaining cameo that became defining to the game. Whiteley bludgeoned 35 not out off 16 balls at a strike rate of 218.75, as Derbyshire boosted their score to a challenging total of 199. Whiteley’s explosive power and ability to clear the rope at the end of an innings provide teams with an attacking option at the end.
All-Rounders – The Game Changers

The last game saw Captain Patel rise to the occasion with a commanding performance. With the ball, he took 3 wickets for 14 runs in his four overs and strangled the middle overs whilst breaking partnerships. With the bat, he made a relatively quick 14 from 9 balls, but it was clear that he intended to attack and keep the momentum and intent going.
Hudson-Prentice played his part to perfection, snaring two and keeping the flow in check during the middle stretch. Fynn didn’t bat, but his ability to float up and down the order provides flexibility. He provides balance, and there would be no reason to drop him.
Bowlers – The Wicket Takers to Watch

AM Ghazanfar’s use of the new ball was tremendous, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs, making his economy of 6.5 and ability to take early wickets have the chance to make him Derbyshire’s go-to spinner in the powerplay or during the middle overs when trying to control the run rate.
It was Brown’s clever tricks and late-innings breakthroughs that gave his side the edge. He also had 2 for 35, showing why he’s often brought in as a strike bowler, particularly when the game is on the line. He impressed with his experience defending the death overs, and he can bowl the slower ball with a disguise that’s well worth watching.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.