There were various heroes in Derbyshire's epic win over Kent today. After the poor first innings batting display, the top five in the order produced innings of grit and substance to ensure that our side moved 26 points clear in the title race, with a game in hand.
I'm inclined to agree with Keith Loring. One more win would, if not making it impossible for other sides to catch us, make it very difficult for them. Kent are now our nearest rivals having played the same number of matches and are 31 points back. We need to show the grit and determination that turned this game on its head in the remaining matches and the champagne can be put on ice.
Let's not count chickens, of course, as we do need to bat better as a unit, although by the sound of today's wickets the surface had deteriorated a little. The morning session at Derby has become one to whet the appetite of bowlers and Charlie Shreck followed in the footsteps of Tony Palladino in making life very difficult for batsmen.
Once the crucial third wicket stand had been broken the wickets fell with alarming regularity and, like most of you, at 257-8 I feared the worst. Yet then came a stand that changed the match and to a great extent defined the championship season. We battled.
No player has made greater strides this summer than Dan Redfern and his phlegmatic and pragmatic approach saw us inch towards the target. At one point it seemed we were looking to emulate the famous Wilfred Rhodes/George Hirst ""We'll get 'em in singles" scenario, as sharp runs gradually eroded the target.
There could be few better tail enders to have in such a situation than Tim Groenewald. I can only imagine what it was like on the ground, but as I drove down from Scotland and the tweets came in I was on tenterhooks that I last recall in Lords finals. To win from the position that we were in at the end of day two highlighted a team spirit that money cannot buy. It was also highlighted by Martin Guptill's tweet from the Caribbean, a Derbyshire man following the game from afar and rejoicing as his team mates celebrated success.
Full credit to the side for turning it around. It all started with Palladino's superb spell yesterday, but the top five all grafted on a track that was far from easy and the eventual win will serve as a catalyst to our promotion ambitions, while putting a serious dent in Kent's. A team with their experience should have won from that position and in most cases they would do. But then they're not playing Derbyshire every time, are they?
While acknowledging the sterling efforts on the pitch today, I would also, in closing, do the same for the outstanding Twitter feed from Tom Holdcroft. Many of us would have loved to be there but couldn't manage it and the updates enabled us all to feel a part of the win.
Great effort by all concerned lads. I look forward to seeing the boys in action on Wednesday night. CB40 may not be our forte, but Derbyshire can only throw away promotion in the real game at this stage.
Top of the table, 26 points clear. Isn't that a fantastic thought?
It was nail biting stuff that,s for sure. The turning point was Powell dropping Redfern at slip. It was a slip that cost them the game as it turned out.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get a life you have to make the opposition pay and Redfern certainly did that. Backed up by the admirable Groenewald,who incidentally took more than his fair share of the bowling,the two of them held their nerve and saw us home.
We almost take the bowling for granted these days,but we really needed a solid batting performance to go with it. For the most part we got that in the second innings and whilst Kent fans would argue they had 75% of the game,possession does not necessarily equate to a win,as any football fan will tell you.
We turned a game round that looked as good as over and full credit to the players for proving they had the will and the bottle to do it.
I fully agree with Krikken,s decision to play four seamers,especially considering Clare looked well short of his best,but we were a batsman light.
We just about got away with it,but next time we might not be so fortunate. Wainwright should not have played. He only bowled 9 overs in the match and as I suspected before a ball was bowled,it was never going to be a spinners track. Hughes,either Chesney or Alex, would have been a more appropriate selection and something Krikk must give serious consideration for the next game. This is no criticism of Wainwright,merely selecting a team for the prevailing conditions.
Anyway,that,s for another day. Tonight we can all celebrate an unlikely win and I for one will be heading off to the pub with a broad grin on my face. Well played Derbyshire. We are almost there.
As a Kent supporter who had huge enjoyment out of my first visit to Derby, I should first of all congratulate Derby for holding their nerve to secure a win that as I drove home on the evening of Day 2, looked more than a touch remote.
ReplyDeleteIn brief, I thought the Kent 1st innings score was better than par on the wicket and the Derby reply 50 below par. Kent were offered to bites of the winning cherry and made a hash of both. The first opportunity was to bat Derby out of the game on Saturday morning but alas, the combination of Palladino and the late middle order (two with international experience) not fancying the lively wicket and lively bowling, declined to get involved. The second opportunity came today when Key (not Powell) dropped the hugely improved Redfern. Anyway, it made for fascinating cricket.
Bring your extra bowlers to Canterbury for the return match, unless it is wet, it will break their hearts!!!
I did like the look of young Turner who looks a real prospect.
On Saturday evening, I suggested to a friend that the winner of this match could rightly claim to be the best in Division II. Good luck for the rest of the season except of course for the return fixture!!
After Friday's play Wes Durston was quoted on the Telegraph website as saying "The game is pretty much beyond us in terms of a victory unless something miraculous happens over the weekend". I think the miracle was the 7 for bowling.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a special mention is needed for Tim Groenewld's batting in this match. First, as stated by Marc, he had more than his fair share of balls faced during the match winning partnership. There were many overs with fielders ringing the boundary to give Dan Redfern a single early in the over. Tim not only survived but chipped in with runs too. But secondly it also needs remembering Groenewald faced the tense situation of batting to (successfully) avoid the follow on in the first innings. Well done.
SR.
Excellent comments gentlemen - thank you for them. Good to see you on here Martin!
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