Donald's Blast blows apart Yorkshire hopes

Derbyshire Falcons 201-3 beat Yorkshire 200-6 by seven wickets

- By NIGEL GARDNER, ECB REPORTERS NETWORK SUPPORTED BY ROTHESAY

A BRUTAL innings from Aneurin Donald drove Derbyshire Falcons to a seven-wicket victory over Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast North Group at Chesterfield.

Donald reached 50 off 13 balls, the joint fastest in the Blast, and smashed seven sixes and eight fours in 85 from 30 balls as the Falcons cruised to a target of 201 in 17.2 overs with Wayne Madsen unbeaten on 38.

It condemned Yorkshire to an eighth consecutive Blast defeat at Queen’s Park and puts a big dent in their chances of reaching the knockouts.

Jordan Thompson hit four sixes in an 11 ball unbeaten 37 to take Yorkshire to 200 for 6 which looked competitive until Donald engaged the turbo with 90 coming in the powerplay. By contrast, Yorkshire started sedately before Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan found their range.