ALEX Hales, who provided one of the few bright spots of England's miserable World t20 Cup effort, fired Nottinghamshire to victory over Derbyshire.
The Falcons were beaten by five wickets in their NatWest t20 Blast match at the 3aaa County Ground despite a second half-century from Marcus North, who was let off the hook four times on his way to 57.
Derbyshire scored 164-7 after winning the toss and batting first but Hales' 63 helped the Outlaws overhaul that with 19 balls to spare.
The home side's troubles started with the first ball, which seemed to surprise 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Bowler Harry Gurney, who 10 minutes before the start turned his ankle and was looking like having to be withdrawn, showed he had recovered by sprinting and diving full length to take the catch.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, off 27 balls with three fours and a six, 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.
Openers Hales and Michael Lumb started with a similar flourish for the Outlaws as they put on 57 in 4.2 overs before Lumb was caught at third man for 21.
James Taylor and Samit Patel soon followed at 76-3 but Hales kept his side well ahead of the scoring rate before he was bowled by Alex Hughes at 112-4 at the end of the 11th over and Steven Mullaney (18) saw the Outlaws over the line with Chris Read (7).
