Yorkshire's game against Northamptonshire has ended in a draw tonight.
The points have taken them one point clear of Kent into second place on 85 points, both of those counties with a game in hand over Derbyshire. Yet we are still 28 points clear in first place!
Even if both of those counties won their game in hand, taking maximum points, we would still be top. The four matches Derbyshire play, home and away, against those sides are going to be pivotal to our chances of promotion, but don't discount our chances at this stage, just because of one defeat.
The most important thing is those four wins. It looks to me as if the County Ground, if the weather keeps out of things, is generally going to produce a result and Derbyshire are as well equipped - perhaps more so - than any team in this division to take advantage of the conditions there.
As I wrote earlier, if Usman Khawaja hits his stride early and gets some good runs under his belt, one of the openers makes the other berth his own and Ross Whiteley comes back onto his game there will be few who fancy playing us. We're likely to bowl out most sides given helpful conditions - we did that at Bristol and were only denied by a fine knock by Alex Gidman - and I find it hard to believe we will bat that badly on a regular basis through the second half of the season.
It is likely to go down to the wire, but I still maintain that Derbyshire will be top three come September. With a little luck we can be in the places that matter and if we keep winning one here and there the silverware is not beyond us.
We have 32 days of championship cricket left, 96 sessions of play. Win most of the sessions and win the matches, that should be the aim. And keep playing aggressive, fearless, purposeful cricket.
It has done us no harm so far
I think much of the reaction was down to the fact most people saw Gloucestershire as a sitting duck and found it hard to come to terms with the fact we were effectively beaten by lunch on the opening day.
ReplyDeleteIt looks a certainty the weather will play a starring role against Leicestershire. Not what we need,but the consolation is it looks nationwide so most,if not all,will be in the same boat.
We need to get our CB40 show back on the road tomorrow. At first glance the table makes uncomfortable reading,but we have only played three games and a wins in our next two will radically change our chances for the better. Sussex play Unicorns today,except the weather will ensure they only get one point. If and I repeat,if we can win the next two we are very much back in the hunt.
As well as things are going in the Championship,we must not ignore the one day format. For many the limited overs stuff is more important. From my point of view,all forms are important and it would be dangerous to concentrate soley on one. Winning,in any form of the game is a good habit to get into.