WAYNE MADSEN fell six runs short of becoming the first man in T20 history to score six successive fifties as his Derbyshire side were comfortably beaten by seven wickets by a revitalised Yorkshire in yesterday’s Vitality Blast clash at Headingley.

England’s Dawid Malan then starred in the chase with a superb 81 not out off 57 balls, Yorkshire winning with ten balls to spare.

Madsen’s 44 off 26 in the Falcons' 166 for eight batting first means he remains one of seven players worldwide to have scored five fifties in a row in this format. Jos Buttler, Virender Sehwag and David Warner are on the list.

Pakistan overseas opener Haider Ali’s belligerent 74 off 47 balls was the feature of Derbyshire’s innings having been inserted, and also his best score for the county in all cricket since arriving in April. But him and Madsen falling in quick succession meant the innings lost crucial momentum from 147 for two in the 17th over.

That paved the way for the Vikings to win their third successive North Group fixture, backing up last week’s successes over Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.

After three wickets for Ben Mike, Malan continued his excellent form with a third fifty in a row and could yet expand that aforementioned list of seven over the next week.

The left-hander shared 83 inside ten overs for the first wicket with Adam Lyth, who made 31, and continued on with almost effortless class in hitting nine fours and three sixes.

Both teams came into this fixture having had identical seasons - winless in the Championship, having lost their first three games in the Blast before winning their last two last week.

Yorkshire started well, with Derbyshire limited to 19 for one after four overs, including Mike getting Luis Reece caught scooping.

Tom Wood fell to leg-spinner Jafer Chohan’s first ball in the ninth over - 59 for two - as he was brilliantly caught at a wide short third-man by a diving Will Luxton following a reverse sweep.

But that strike only served to bring Madsen to the crease. Both Ali, who reached 50 off 35 balls, and Madsen struck the ball cleanly during an 88-run partnership inside nine overs, though the wind was quickly taken out of Derbyshire’s sails.

Madsen drilled David Wiese into the covers to end his shot at history - 147 for three in the 17th over - before Ali was smartly caught by Wiese off Mike in the next.

Mike also bowled a reverse sweeping Leus du Plooy before another three wickets fell in the last eight balls to give Yorkshire the definite advantage at halfway.

And it didn’t take long for the result to become obvious as Adam Lyth and Malan were quickly into their stride.

Malan pulled George Scrimshaw for a six in the eighth over, and by the time he reached 50 off 35 balls in the 11th over, Yorkshire were 103 for one.

Yorkshire’s target was reduced to 42 off the last five overs at 125 for two, and a couple of lusty blows from Namibian international all-rounder Wiese ended Malan’s hopes of a sixth career T20 century but more importantly gave the hosts another two points.