Derbyshire have a triple incentive for ending their NatWest T20 Blast campaign on a high with a victory over Worcestershire Rapids tonight (Friday).
The Falcons want to follow last Sunday's impressive win over Yorkshire at Queen's Park with another good performance to give them a chance of climbing off the bottom of the North Group and set them up for the 50 overs Royal London Cup.
They also have a point to prove following the eight wicket thrashing inflicted by the Rapids with 43 balls to spare at New Road last month.
Inconsistency has cost Derbyshire the chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals in a tight group but T20 skipper Wes Durston has seen encouraging signs over the last two months.
"I think we are showing good signs, it's just a shame that we lost three games we should have won which means we can't go any further in the competition but we can take positives from the way we've played," he said.
"Last year we came away with only one win so to have four this time shows we are moving in the right direction and we have the players we can move forward with.
"We've had good overseas players and if we can attract good overseas in the future and build on performances we've had this year, then who knows, but it is progress although we are walking forward rather than running at the moment.
"What we've got is guys who are learning the trade and a good young squad so it's exciting that we can beat a strong side like Yorkshire who, on paper, are a superior side but so are Nottinghamshire and we nearly did the double over them.
"So there are encouraging signs and we just need to finish with another win over a strong Worcestershire side."
With another limited-over tournament starting a week on Saturday, Durston believes it is important to build on the momentum from the Yorkshire victory and make it five home wins out of seven.
"Ok, this competition's gone but going into the 50-over competition it gives us a lot of confidence to beat a strong Yorkshire side.
"We know we have the players to do it, we just need to have the belief to go with it and hopefully we can go on to do some good things in the 50-over competition.
"I think we are showing good signs. We've got Worcestershire at home in our final match and if we can finish with five wins to go alongside the three disappointing defeats, that would be progress."
