VICTORY over Gloucestershire was enough to send Derbyshire through to the quarter-finals of the Royal London One-Day Cup.
The combination of the Falcons' 53-run win at the 3aaa County Ground and an eight-wicket defeat for Leicestershire against Lancashire meant that Derbyshire finish fourth in their group and will take on Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge next Tuesday at 2pm.
It is their first appearance in a quarter-final of any one-day competition since 2005.
A one-day career best from Billy Godleman, much of it made in a century stand with Wayne Madsen, took Derbyshire to 271-7 after being put in to bat by Gloucestershire, who were then bowled out for 218 inside 40 overs.
Godleman made 96 and could consider himself very unlucky to be given out but the Falcons were still in pretty good shape at the midway stage of their must-win final group match.
They started the day needing to win and needing Leicestershire to lose at Old Trafford. The Foxes were bowled out for 184 by Lancashire, who were 33-0 in seven overs at tea.
Batting conditions were not easy at first and Derbyshire lost Wes Durston in the fifth over as he drove at Craig Miles and was caught behind for 14 at 25-1.
Godleman and Marcus North recovered well to take the score on to 73 in the 15th over only for the stand to be broken when North set off for a single off a nudge to point and was run out for 20 after being sent back.
That was a blow just when Derbyshire were starting to get into their stride but the third-wicket pair soon picked up the pace. They added 116 in 22 overs but their stand ended when Madsen was well caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick standing up to David Payne.
The skipper made 57 off 65 balls with three fours and a six and the score was 189-3 in the 37th over.
Alex Hughes fell in similar fashion in the next over at 190-4 but Godleman moved closer to a century until he was given caught behind down the leg side for 96 at 209-5 in the 42nd over. There was conspicuously no appeal at first from the wicketkeeper and it looked a poor decision.
Godleman faced 131 balls and hit six fours and a six.
Gareth Cross made only one before he was caught at long on at 220-6 but late runs came from Scott Elstone (37) and Tony Palladino (28 not out) as, despite a hold-up for rain, they added 45 in five overs. Elstone was bowled with two balls to go and David Wainwright finished four not out.
Gloucestershire lost Michael Klinger in the third over as he was hit on the left forearm by Mark Footitt and had to retire hurt on two. He was taken to hospital, where the break was confirmed.
Ben Cotton had Hamish Marshall lbw for nought in the fourth over at 6-1 and Footitt had Roderick caught at second slip by Durston for four at 46-2.
Chris Dent tried to hit his side back into contention with a 58-ball 70 before he was bowled by Wainwright's googly at 118-4 in the 23rd.
After that, Gloucestershire could only offer a steady 47 from Alex Gidman and an aggressive 53 from Jack Taylor but they fell well short.
Wainwright took 3-45 and there were two wickets each for Footitt and Palladino.
