Zimbabwe’s T20 captain Sikandar Raza enjoyed a solid start to his spell at Northamptonshire as his crucial knock inspired the Steelbacks to a winning start to their Vitality Blast campaign in a final-ball thriller against Derbyshire Falcons last Thursday.
Veteran all-rounder Ravi Bopara was the hero for the Steelbacks as he hit an unbeaten 56 from 42 deliveries to steer his side to victory.
The former England all-rounder Bopara, 39, shared a partnership of 67 from 52 balls with 38-year-old Zimbabwe international Raza – both making their experience count on their Blast debuts for the Steelbacks.
Although Raza (38 from 27) fell to Zak Chappell with 25 still needed, Bopara – a Blast winner with Essex in 2019 – kept his head to steer Northamptonshire over the line along with Lewis McManus, who levelled the scores with a boundary off Luis Reece and struck the final ball for a single.
Earlier, David Lloyd had top-scored for the Falcons with 41 from 22 as they posted 162 for 7 at Wantage Road, with Steelbacks skipper David Willey taking 1 for 17 from four overs.
Scores in brief
Northamptonshire 163 for 5 (Bopara 56*, Vasconcelos 42, Brown 3-33) beat Derbyshire 162 for 7 (Lloyd 41, Willey 2-17, Scrimshaw 2-38) by five wickets.
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