MARCUS North was let off the hook four times before taking Derbyshire to a decent total batting first in their NatWest t20 Blast match against Nottinghamshire at the 3aaa County Ground.
The Falcons scored 164-7 in their 20 overs, with North their highest scorer on 57.
Derbyshire's troubles started with the first ball, which seemed to stop on Stephen Moore and looped into the air.
Bowler Harry Gurney, who 10 minutes before the start turned his ankle and was looking like having to be withdrawn, showed he had recovered by sprinting and diving full length to take the catch.
The Falcons pulled a surprise out of the hat by sending in Tom Knight, scorer of an unbeaten 99 in a second team t20, to bat at three and he almost ran himself out off the third ball. He survived but Derbyshire were 15-2 when Wes Durston was bowled by Andy Carter for seven and 23-3 when Knight was caught at mid on for six.
That was in the ninth over but Wayne Madsen and Marcus North got the scoreboard ticking at last until the captain was caught at deep midwicket for 36 at 71-4 in the 11th over.
Scott Elstone fell the same way for 17 at 102-5 in the 15th and Gareth Cross was bowled for five at 139-6 in the 19th.
North gave caught and bowled chances on nine and 11, might have been stumped on 15 and was dropped again on 48 before finally holing out to long on in the final over but Tim Groenewald (19 not out) finished with a flourish.
