DESPITE a magnificent knock by Marcus North on his Derbyshire return, the Falcons were beaten by 27 runs on their opening fixture of the NatWest t20 Blast campaign.
The Australian made 90 off 47 balls with six fours and six sixes – a career-best and the fourth-highest individual innings by a Derbyshire player - but his innings was ultimately overshadowed by Scott Styris' debut for Leicestershire.
Styris, holder of the third-fastest t20 hundred of all time, powered to 63 not out off 31 balls with seven fours and three sixes as the Foxes scored 197-4 after being put in to bat.
Derbyshire lost three wickets early in the innings and struggled to pick up the pace after that. They finished on 170-7.
Mark Footitt took Derbyshire's first wicket with the second ball as Niall O'Brien was caught at third man off a big outside edge to make it 1-1 but Josh Cobb struck three sixes in his 38 before he was stumped off Wes Durston at 70-2.
Greg Smith added 35 before he was caught at short fine leg to make it 94-3 after 11.2 overs before Ned Eckersley was caught at mid off from Jon Clare's bowling for 33.
That was 138-4 in the 16th but Styris provided the late firepower to hurt the Falcons.
His 50 came off only 26 balls, with six fours and two sixes, and he finished with 63 not out to take Leicestershire to a formidable total.
Derbyshire were in trouble when Chesney Hughes was bowled for seven in the third over, then Stephen Moore went for 24 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul for nought to make it 37-3 in the sixth over.
North and Durston put on 70 for the fourth wicket but it took them nine overs. Durston went for 28 to a great catch from Cobb at 107-4 but while North remained, there was a chance for the Falcons.
Finally, he was yorked by Anthony Ireland in the 18th over and the Foxes cruised to victory after that,
