11:41AM, Thu Jun 28, 2012

South African batsman in top form to seal Durham victory: Gibbs blast lifts Dynamos

Herschelle Gibbs: Brilliant innings to fire Durham home

Herschelle Gibbs blasted an unbeaten 83 as Durham powered to an eight-wicket victory against Derbyshire at Chester-le-Street.

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The South African star took just 58 balls to compile his knock and lead Durham home with 17 balls to spare in their Friends Life t20 match.

Derbyshire's 131-7 was more than had looked likely for most of their innings but 45 came off the last four overs as former Durham player Garry Park made an unbeaten 29 off 20 balls.

Derbyshire chose to bat on a cloudy evening and took 10 off the first over but needed a further four overs to double that tally, while losing two wickets.

Wes Durston pulled Chris Rushworth to Ben Stokes on the square leg boundary, while Graham Onions conceded only two runs in his first two overs and struck with his ninth ball.

He swung the ball away from left-hander Ross Whiteley, who followed it and edged to Phil Mustard, recording a five-ball duck.

Usman Khawaja and skipper Wayne Madsen put on 52 in eight overs before spinners Gareth Breese and Scott Borthwick both struck with their sixth ball.

Khawaja was well caught just inside the long-on boundary by Onions for 33, made off 38 balls, then Chesney Hughes went down the pitch and was bowled by Borthwick.

Madsen had made 27 off 30 balls when he skied a straight drive off Borthwick and Johann Myburgh ran in from long-on to hold a well-judged catch.

Jon Clare boosted the total with a swift 17, but it was plain sailing for the Durham openers as Gibbs and Mustard had 60 on the board after seven overs before spinner David Wainwright applied a brake.

With the opening stand worth 70 in nine overs, Mustard went down the pitch and was stumped for 35 as Wainwright conceded only eight runs in his first three overs.

Dale Benkenstein made seven off 12 balls before driving Hughes to long-off but Gibbs hurried Durham home.

He had seven fours in his 42-ball half-century then added three sixes, two of them off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.