Today saw a good bowling effort by Derbyshire at Chesterfield, the side bowling with impressive discipline to restrict Essex to 202-5 before rain ensured that there was no play after tea.
Mark Footitt started things off in his customary fashion with the early wicket of Ravi Bopara, before Tom Taylor reinforced his growing reputation as someone who takes good wickets by removing both Jesse Ryder and James Foster, international cricketers both. Alex Hughes chipped in with a very economical spell and the wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate, while Tony Palladino fulfilled his stock bowler role admirably, conceding only two an over in twenty-three overs of bowling.
I wrote last night that there would not be much between the respective first innings and at this stage that looks likely to be the case, even though it would appear that Essex are likely to have a lead of some description. Young opener Nick Browne has done well for them with a personal best score and we will hope to make early inroads tomorrow as soon as the weather allows the game to resume.
The game so far has clearly illustrated why I like the Chesterfield wickets, as there's a reward for bowlers who are prepared to bend their backs, while short boundaries and a generally quick outfield reward those batsmen who are able to get in and are prepared to play strokes. 250-350 is par for modern Queens Park wickets, but we will hope to get Essex out for some way short of that top figure tomorrow.
The game is very open at this stage and it would be nice to see Derbyshire battle to the ascendancy. What is certain is that we need more contributions than we had in the first innings and a lengthy batting line-up needs to assert itself much better than has been the case of late.
Essex will not fancy chasing over 250 in the last innings, but we will need to see if the Derbyshire batting has the skill and gumption to set them anywhere near that total. It's time for the real Shivnarine Chanderpaul to stand up and while the passing years have reduced his ability to play huge innings on a regular basis, I hope that there are a few more in the tank over the remainder of the summer.
Second innings here would do very nicely...
been both days and enjoyed them. back at work so cant do next two. thoughts - batting wes and mads played really well but rest was poor , bowling i thought was ok today and with a bit of luck we could have had more wickets - impressed with taylor and foots too. pally and hughes steady. have i learnt much - not sure - welch worries me not picking players in form - wes should have been an immediate shoe in after india and leicester and so perhaps should godleman and hosein. i just cannot see the case for leaving them out unless there are favourites in the squad which isnt good at all.
ReplyDeleteIt could be an interesting one today. Can we bowl them out by lunch?. I think that has to be the target and if we can get my old mate Smith and his partner Browne out quickly,we are then looking at the tail.
ReplyDeleteIf we are serious about trying to win then we will need to crack on when it comes to our second innings. We have to aim to have Essex batting by tomorrow lunch if we are to give ourselves a realistic chance of bowling them out.
Welch got lucky when circumstances forced his hand and Durston was drafted in at the last minute. I think Creweblade has made a valid point talking about team selection,which seems to have become ever more bizarre as the season has unfolded.
I though that particular problem ended with the demise of Krikken but it seems not. Even some of his teams were more understandable than many of those Welch has put out. I can assure you he is not doing himself any favours and many people are beginning to openly question whether Welch is indeed the right man for the job. For now,I will reserve judgement,but the clock is ticking.