Glamorgan v Derbyshire day two

If Wales Online is anything to go by, Glamorgan are as good as beaten in this game, after Derbyshire bowled them out before lunch then extended their lead to 187 with four wickets in hand. "Glamorgan facing defeat against Derbyshire" says their headline tonight.

I'm not so sure it is that clear cut, as the indications after tea were that the wicket, which for two days had been damp underneath the top surface, was starting to flatten out a little. That should not take anything away from an outstanding fight by our middle/lower order, however, but we will need to continue to work hard to come away with the win points in this one.

Jon Clare has had a day to remember, with 5-17 this morning being followed by a belligerent unbeaten 40 after Ross Whiteley was run out shortly after tea. If these two talented young players continue in the vein they have shown in this game they both have the potential to be called up for England Lions in the not too distant future.

So too does David Wainwright and the three make up a terrific engine room of all round talent for Derbyshire. At 37-5 we were in real trouble today, but to then get through to the close on 152-6 was a superb effort. The problem has largely been one of negligible bounce and lavish movement, hence the large number of batsmen being bowled or leg before. It has not been, in short, the sort of track you would expect to see on a Test match ground.

Speaking of Wainwright, the left-handed all-rounder batted 47 overs and nearly three hours for his unbeaten 30, most of it made when the wicket was at its worst. Few would deem it an attractive innings, but in its importance to his adopted county it was beyond value. With no disrespect intended, it was not the sort of diligent, responsible innings one could have expected Greg Smith to have played in such a situation. After taking the wicket of Robert Croft with his only ball of the day, Wainwright could hardly have done any more for the Derbyshire cause today and he has become an instant favourite with the fans.

So what of the match? After a day of sunshine, Derbyshire's bowlers will hope for a little cloud cover tomorrow as Glamorgan embark on a likely chase of around 230. Any more will see Derbyshire fancy their chances; less will leave the game wide open.

Derbyshire are on top at the end of day two and have once again displayed an admirable fighting spirit as well as no little technical skill. They will need more of both tomorrow to conclude another very encouraging display with the win points.

Now that would shut up a few people, wouldn't it?

PS In other news, there was another encouraging spell by Matt Higginbottom today for Leeds/Bradford MCCU against Yorkshire as he continues his recovery from injury. He took the wickets of Anthony McGrath and Andrew Gale for just 16 runs having earlier made a belligerent unbeaten 31.

Now where's my sunglasses? That future is getting a bit bright for me...