Yorkshire v Derbyshire day 3

Hands up everyone who expects to be nibbling their nails tomorrow afternoon at some point?

Yes, me too and the fact that I'm working won't stop me loading a desktop scorecard from time to time to check on our progress. Much like the last day of the Kent game, this is season-defining stuff. Another 38 runs tomorrow and we avoid the follow on and surely, surely save the game. If we don't quite manage that, reaching 250 would get us another bonus point and then the last pair occupying the crease for a while would take some of the pain from the second innings.

Has a Derbyshire side had such a reason to battle in the middle in recent years? I doubt it. I would like to think that it is unlikely we could lose twelve wickets in a day, but the recent track record of our top order leaves me wary of feeling too relaxed tonight. The first session, with a new ball imminent and England bowlers past and present to share it, will be crucial, but I am sure that our players will go into the final day's play ready and willing to graft.

Like most of you, having seen the weather forecasts last night and this morning I was astonished that there was so much play today and tomorrow seems set for better weather. We can expect a lot of overs, especially with Rafiq and Rashid in the side and a draw would be a massive result for Derbyshire, especially from a game in which we have largely been outplayed.

Full credit to Wes Durston, who turned around a horrid first hour with some fluent strokes, as well as to Ross Whiteley, who showed a willingness to graft that belied his relative inexperience. Of course, the end of the day belonged to David Wainwright and how nice it would be if he could see his way to 70 or 80 tomorrow, a score that would stymie his old county and be of massive importance to the one that will be his home for the next four years. If Tim Groenewald can replicate his Kent heroics at the other end, 38 more runs is feasible...

Should we get a draw, the likelihood is that we would remain 22 points clear of Yorkshire with a game in hand. Hampshire, 256 runs behind Northamptonshire with the very talented Alex Wakely unbeaten on 61, will have a lot to do to close the gap too, though would seem to have a better chance than Kent. They would require the most contrived of finishes to get anything from their game at Bristol, where there has been eleven overs cricket in three days.

That Derbyshire will need to up their game, especially their batting, from what has been shown in this game is undeniable. So too is the fact that the team spirit that has served them so well this summer is alive and well.

Tomorrow it will need to be. Don't let us down now, lads.