Derbyshire’s Anuj Dal played a pivotal role in their thrilling one-wicket victory over Somerset in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Taunton. Dal’s brilliant century (115 off 75 balls) propelled Derbyshire to a hard-fought win, securing their position as Group A leaders.
Somerset had set a challenging target of 316 for 5, with Sean Dickson (86), James Rew (88), Andy Umeed (58), and Josh Thomas (54*) contributing significant runs. Zak Chappell’s 3 for 54 was the standout bowling performance for Derbyshire.
In response, Derbyshire’s chase was anchored by Dal and David Lloyd (71). The pair forged a crucial 145-run partnership, with Dal reaching his century off just 69 balls. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Derbyshire remained in contention thanks to Dal’s explosive batting.
After Dal’s dismissal, 17-year-old Harry Moore played a match-winning cameo, scoring an unbeaten 36 off 20 balls. Moore’s innings included five fours and a six, guiding Derbyshire to victory with ten balls to spare.
George Thomas was the pick of Somerset’s bowlers, claiming 3 for 41, including the crucial wicket of Lloyd. However, Derbyshire’s resilience and determination proved too much for the hosts.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Derbyshire, who have now taken over as Group A leaders. The team’s performance was a testament to their depth and fighting spirit, with Dal and Moore emerging as key contributors.
