I'm not convinced that this one will run until day four, so my cricket-watching on this short family break will likely be truncated. Still, if the summer ends with a home win, few will complain.
Many congratulations go tonight to Ben Slater (pictured), who scored his maiden century for the club. It was an innings that dug us out of a hole and was well-deserved. Young Ben has perhaps snuck under the radar a little in the analysis of our bright young things, but, as Sir Geoffrey Boycott may have said on more than one occasion, "roons are roons." No matter that he will face better attacks in his career, he will always remember a first ton and those runs look the same in the scorebook, no matter who was bowling.
In the process his season average eased north of forty. Any batsman would be pleased with such a return and I am delighted for the lad and his family. It was the ideal way to celebrate the award of a new two-year contract today and I am sure that we will celebrate plenty more centuries in the summers that lie ahead.
The rest of the batting was sketchy. Cheteshwar Pujara found himself on the end of a dismissal that ranks either as unlucky or careless, depending on your viewpoint, while Wes seemed to be going like a train when he went somewhat off-track and hit the ball down the throat of deep mid-wicket. A century seemed there for the taking and he will be disappointed to miss out.
There were a few late blows from Tony Palladino and Ben Cotton, the former expected now, the latter seeming to have a fair bit to offer with the bat, but we might have hoped for 300 at least from 186-3, the total when Wes departed.
I think Alex Hughes is ready for a break after a long first season and Wayne White needs to work on his batting over the winter to restore his game to the genuine all-rounder status it was in his Leicestershire days.
Yet further congratulations were due in the evening gloom as Mark Footitt took his hundredth wicket of the summer in all competitions. There are hardly the adjectives to describe Mark's efforts this summer, especially when one considers the number of games he has played in comparison to his earlier career.
A second wicket for Tony Palladino before the close saw Leicestershire in some trouble at 25-2 by the close.
All things being equal, our trip down south should see me at the County Ground to see their position deteriorate tomorrow.
Not a vintage day for Derbyshire by any means, but a memorable one for Ben Slater and Mark Footitt - and we're currently in the box seat.
One comment from me about no centuries since April and the worst count since 1972 last week and now we have two more. Well done, Ben Slater, but I'll take my share of the credit as well. Whilst I'm on such a run of form, Mark Footitt can't be regarded as a serious bowler until he takes 8 in an innings - in less than 20 overs!
ReplyDeleteYeah...think there's a role as a motivational guru on the staff for you mate!
ReplyDeleteBy rights Leicestershire should be shell-shocked and with us bowling pretty well I'm expecting them to be bowled out for 175ish and for us to bat much better 2nd time.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted for Slater - as a fellow Cestrefeldian it's fantastic to see him make the place at the top his own.
A terrific day for young Slater who will feel so much better now he has put the icing on top of the cake. He could hardly have wished for a better day in his wildest dreams.Well done that man.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good job he did what he did otherwise we would have been looking at a bit of a disaster,save for a useful half century from Durston. The remainder of the batting had,shall we say,an end of season look about it. Still,the day ended on a satisfactory note and I would expect us to bowl Leicestershire out well before they reach our total.
Echoing the congratulations for Ben Slater I'd just like to add that yesterday he added a cherry to the icing on that cake!
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