Essex v Derbyshire day three

While the weather may well turn out to be the winner in this game, Derbyshire's performance has been highly impressive and professional.

Having bowled out Essex for 194 and a first innings lead of 132, they extended that by a further six runs before the close for the loss of Steve Stubbings.

It is hard to see where a result can come from in this match as runs have not been easy to come by and there appears to have been help for the seam bowlers throughout, so full marks to John Morris for reading the track correctly.

Serious kudos tonight go to Ian Hunter (pictured). When I mentioned our seam bowling strength pre-season I highlighted the abilities of Langeveldt, Wagg and Clare, mentioned the return to fitness of Tom Lungley and the support available from Greg Smith. Yet I neglected Hunter, which did the man a disservice and I apologise for that.

Earlier in his Derbyshire career he looked quick but tended to be erratic. Then he went through a spell where he struggled with injury and looked to be on his way out. Last season he was far from a regular but I saw him bowl a beautiful spell against Glamorgan in the Pro 40 last year and he looked to have a better control over his line and length than I remember.

Today's figures - 5-46 from 23 overs would have had Cliff and Les purring at the parsimony and the penetration. Praise is also due to Jon Clare for what is becoming his customary tight spell and it was good to see Greg Smith pitch in with wickets, including the important one of Matt Walker just before lunch.

At one point it looked like we could enforce the follow on, but Foster and Masters took them out of immediate danger. The former is an unlucky player and has been as good a wicket keeper batsman as any on the circuit over recent years, yet seems to be penalised for a premature and unimpressive England call up before he was ready. Masters is a canny bowler and has been a good County pro for some seasons now.

Only Tom Lungley struggled for us, going for 5 an over, but he will benefit from the overs and will come back again. He may have to, as there was no sign of Graham Wagg in the field. Presumably he picked up a knock when batting, or pulled a muscle, but there's been no reference to it in the usual sources. If he has a slight niggle it makes sense at this stage to let him take it easy, as there's sure to be a lot of bowling to do before September.

Elsewhere in our division Leicestershire made heavy weather of replying to Northants total of 387 and were 147-8 at the close, with only Jim Allenby (another player I like) keeping them afloat with a battling unbeaten 49. Meanwhile Surrey and Gloucestershire look set for a draw as rain hasn't allowed more than eleven overs in the game's second innings. Looking at the Surrey line-up, I won't be losing sleep
over their visit to the County ground on Wednesday.

As for us, a draw seems likely. I suspect we may declare mid-afternoon tomorrow, perhaps setting a notional 300 or so, but with a bowler short Morris won't want to risk their batting making a better fist of things in the second dig. Still, good work guys - all in all a promising day's cricket.