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Phantoms look for cash injection

Derbyshire are looking to cash in on another surge of interest in cricket's newest competition when this season's Twenty20 Cup gets under way tonight.

Derbyshire are looking to cash in on another surge of interest in cricket's newest competition when this season's Twenty20 Cup gets under way tonight.

England's emphatic defeat of Australia last week in the first Twenty20 international match in this country has already had a positive effect on this year's domestic competition, with improved advance ticket sales reported at the County Ground.

An extended format this year means Derbyshire now have four home matches to make the most of an event that, since it was launched in 2003, has captured the public imagination.

Four bumper crowds could make a huge difference to the finances of the struggling county club and with the weather looking as if it might be kinder to them than it was last season, chief executive Tom Sears says hopes are high that the Twenty20 Cup will prove to be a big success again.

"Ticket sales have noticably picked up since the international match and hospitality sales are very good too," he said.

"Twenty20 has been great for the clubs and has brought a new audience to cricket. We hope many more people will come down to see what it is all about for themselves this season because the extra income this generates means such a lot to a club like Derbyshire."

The first game for the Phantoms will be against Durham tomorrow and they will be at home again on Friday, against holders Leicestershire.

Derbyshire's other two home fixtures are against Lancashire on July 4 and Notts on July 6. All matches start at 5.30pm.

The short format of the game, with 20 overs per side, means plenty of big hitting from the batsmen and demands spectacular standards from the fielding team. The carnival atmosphere of a match is extended to activities going on off the field.

Derbyshire have a decent record in the competition, though they have just been pipped to qualification for the knockout stages both times so far.

With the team having shown improved standards in the one-day game recently, director of cricket David Houghton says he believes the Phantoms can go one better this season.

"Limited overs cricket always gives you a pretty even chance because it's down to who plays well on the day. That's how you come to get results like Bangladesh beating Australia," he said.

"If you get a winning method together and get on a roll, any side can go all the way, as Leicester proved last year. If we play as we can, I fancy our chances."

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