One thing that cannot be denied about cricket at the County Ground this season is that it has produced some great last day finishes. Full tribute to the groundstaff for producing tracks that, in only the second year after turning the square, have lasted four days and offered something for batsmen and bowlers alike.
After the batting feasts of the first two days and to a lesser extent the third morning, the remainder of the day offered help to seam bowlers as fifteen wickets fell. Although ten of those were our wickets, my guess is that at the end of the day Luke Sutton is the happier of the two skippers. The target of 298 is a long way away and if we can remove Joe Denly early tomorrow I fully expect a win by mid-afternoon, if the weather stays out of it. While Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens are dangerous customers and Azhar Mahmood is a fine player, Derbyshire are well-placed at this stage.
Congratulations go to Tony Palladino today, on reaching the landmark of fifty wickets for the first time. He never had the opportunities at Essex but has thrived in a new environment.
Maybe Tim Groenewald, needing four wickets, can emulate him tomorrow.
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