Derbyshire 313
Surrey 560 (Durston 6-113)
After a closely-fought first two days, Surrey stormed away with the third and left Derbyshire with a lot to do on the fourth to avoid a defeat that would seal their opponents a promotion spot and put them in poll position for the title.
To be fair, after a spirited batting effort they deserve it. In batting as long as they did, their intention will have been to ensure against batting again, though they must hope for a full day today and a limp second innings effort from us.
Work commitments stopped me following too much of today's play, but as Creweblade points out below yesterday's post, we would have been in big trouble without Wes Durston's marathon effort that produced career-best figures. Both Ben Cotton and Tony Palladino bowled with commendable accuracy, but Mark Footitt had a rare ineffective day and both Matt Critchley and Tom Milnes proved expensive.
Such is the game. It will be a battle tomorrow and the batsmen must be ready for a day of fielders all around the bat. A draw would be a good achievement and in its own way a marker of the fighting spirit in the side. There is nothing to play for but pride, but I hope that the spirit is strong.
I bet there's a few red rose fans rooting for us tomorrow...
In closing tonight, I omitted to mention earlier in the week that it was nice to see Mohammad Azharuddin back at Derby for the filming of the biopic of his life.
After considered thought, I can recall no Derbyshire batsman who made batting look so effortless, so easy, so joyful. Especially in his first season, Azha watching was a joy and he was a quite stunning player to watch.
There were times that he played the ball so late you thought it was through, but a late turn of the wrists speared the ball to the mid-wicket boundary. He moved little at the crease until he needed to, but when he did it was with purpose and footwork that a Strictly Come Dancing professional would have been proud of.
It was a privilege to watch him.
Will be interesting to see if Billy Godleman can get his 1000 for the season tomorrow. Interesting article by Mark Eklid in Telegraph today on those who have scored 1000 FC runs in a season for the county.
ReplyDeleteIf Billy gets there, he'll only be the third English born player this millennium to have done so for Derbyshire (after Wes and Steve Stubbings), and only the fourth in 20 years (adding in Barnett and Adams late 90's).
Welsh Exile
It's an interesting idea that we would be in much bigger trouble without Wes' 6 wickets - how much bigger trouble could we be in than facing a day of good quality spin on a turning pitch with a first innings deficit of 250? I wasn't optimistic at lunchtime when I posted a gloomy comment, but wouldn't have believed that we'd let Surrey score another 260 for their last 4 wickets. Unfair comment on Footitt - he had Ansari dropped on 1 and Burke before he scored, so might easily have had 3 or 4,and Surrey 170 less.
ReplyDeleteAt least I have some cricket to watch, I suppose, but it's more a sign of how expectations have fallen that batting beyond mid-afternoon and/or 200 will seem like success. It'll need 2 of the first four to bat 70 overs to give us a hope of getting the 5 points for a draw that should at least mean that there's no risk of the last match of the season being a wooden spoon decider.
Recent half hearted efforts in the Championship indicate a team on it's knees,partly caused by the lack of a proper Autumn break last year.Training from early November until April seems rather excessive and counter productive.Enthusiasm seems totally lacking of late leading to poor results.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. It's only 11am and I see we're 5 for 2. At this rate it'll be over by lunch!
ReplyDeleteI agree totally on Azha. I remember popping into Sophia Gardens one day in 1994 while I was working in Cardiff and seeing him make an exquisite ton. What a player. I think we ended up with 400 plus and won the match. Happy days!
True about Mark, notoveryet, but he was more expensive than of late and that was what I was referring to.
ReplyDelete