Light denies Northamptonshire with 23 needed against Derbyshire

Northamptonshire were 23 runs short of a famous win when bad light and drizzle ended their chase against Derbyshire in a draw.

Chasing 349 on the fourth and final day on Friday, Northamptonshire were stopped with four wickets still in hand. The players left the field at around 16:20 BST and did not return.

Lewis McManus and George Bartlett were the two batters in the middle when the umpires called a halt, with victory suddenly taken out of reach. In a chase, the batting side must pass the target before losing all ten wickets, so four wickets left meant Northamptonshire still had batting to come.

Head coach Darren Lehmann gave a mixed verdict to BBC Radio Northampton after the game at Wantage Road, according to BBC Sport. He called the pitch unbelievable and described the match as one of the greatest advertisements for the four-day game.

He also said the finish was one of the worst advertisements for the county game. The frustration was easy to understand. Northamptonshire had fought their way to the edge of a win that would have changed the promotion race.

The draw left Northamptonshire four points behind Kent in Division Two. Kent hold the second and final promotion place, the last ticket up to Division One.

What makes this stand out is the fine margin. Twenty-three runs is barely four boundaries. Four wickets is enough room to keep attacking. To sit in the dressing room and watch the light go is a particular kind of cricket heartbreak.

For fans, this means a straight shootout next time out. Northamptonshire travel to Lord's to face Middlesex on Thursday. Kent host bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire at the same time.