Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson guide India to a comfortable victory over Derbyshire in warm-up match

India thrashed Derbyshire by seven wickets in the first T20 warm-up game on July 1, Friday. And it was the same duo, Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson, once again who spearheaded the Indian batting, after their heroics against Ireland last month. While Hooda scored a brilliant half-century, Samson scored 38 at the top as the Men in Blue chased down 151 with 20 balls to spare. Suryakumar Yadav also played a fine hand of 36 runs and remained unbeaten.

Shan Masood’s side batted first and put up a total of 150 for the loss of eight wickets. Wayne Madsen top-scored with 28 runs off 21 balls, and Hilton Cartwright scored 27 runs off 26 balls. Only three other batters went past the score of 20 and none of the other batters could get into double figures. 

The pick of the Indian bowlers was the uncapped pacer, Arshdeep Singh, with figures of 2/29 in four overs. Venkatesh Iyer also got the nod with the ball and picked the wicket of Madsen, conceding 18 runs in three overs. Pacer Umran Malik also finished with two wickets for 31 runs in four overs.

Suryakumar Yadav sees off the Indian chase with an unbeaten 36

Meanwhile, India opened with Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad, and the latter departed for just three runs in the first over. Hooda came in at number three, and the Samson-Hooda partnership added another 51 runs on the board before Samson departed for 38 off 30 balls. Suryakumar Yadav came in at number four and the third-wicket partnership added another 78 runs. Hooda scored a well-made 59 off 37 balls, and Yadav saw off the chase, scoring an unbeaten 36 runs off 22 balls, along with skipper Dinesh Karthik, who was unbeaten on seven runs.

Fast bowler Ben Aitchison was the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers, picking up the wickets of Gaikwad and Hooda, conceding 30 runs in three overs. Leg-spinner Mattie McKiernan picked up the wicket of Samson, conceding 20 runs in three overs.

Meanwhile, Karthik’s side will play its second T20 warm-up game on Sunday against Northamptonshire, ahead of the three-match T20I series against England, starting on July 7. Skipper Rohit Sharma will be back in the Indian team, after recovering from COVID-19. Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah will be back in the limited-overs side from the second T20I onwards.