Sunday 30 April 2017

Derbyshire innings - last 25 overs

Thakor completed an excellent fifty at a run-a-ball and looked a player of high class in doing so.

Should we win here, it would be a new club record for List A  cricket for Derbyshire, beating last year's 298-3 to beat Worcestershire.

A period of steady accumulation ended with a straight six by Thakor off White, who otherwise bowled a steady spell for the visitors.

The last 20 overs started with Derbyshire chasing 130, something they would fancy in a T20 game with nine wickets in hand.

The two batsmen kept the scoreboard moving and the reintroduction of Buck to the attack saw a brutal slash for four by Thakor, followed by a delightful flick off his legs for another as the score passed 200 in the 33rd over.

99 to win from 17 overs. Less than a run a ball...

With both batsmen now in the 90s, the ball continues to be worked around quite delightfully. No daft shots, just sheer professionalism, though we cannot afford either the luxury of 'nervous nineties'.

The 150 stand came up with a single to Thakor, but both batsmen have become a little becalmed at this stage with the landmark in sight. Then on 97, Thakor hooks a bouncer for four to reach a superb century from 86 balls, which he follows up with two more boundaries off the following two deliveries. It is a maiden one day hundred and a wonderful effort.

The stand came to an end when Godleman was caught behind by Rossington off Keogh for a fine 95, a stand of 168 putting Derbyshire in control. With eleven overs to go, 66 are needed to win.

Madsen is next in and quickly off the mark, signalling the start of the last ten with a lofted shot over mid wicket for four. The visitors are understandably flat and only our doing something silly should lose from here.

The visitors are having endless chats about field placings, but with seven overs to go, forty to win, after a Madsen straight driven four.

31 to win from the last five overs, with Thakor limping on 122 and Madsen on 23.

A superb straight six from Thakor eases any pressure from the first ball of the 46th and this could be a key over. Then Madsen steps away and slashes hard, Duckett, who has fielded brilliantly,  taking a rasping catch at cover and probably wishing he hadn't from the hand-wringing that followed.

Smit comes in at five with 24 to win and is quickly away, tucking one off his hip. Then a shocker..Thakor hooks a high full toss and is run out trying to take a second from a no ball. Two new batsmen at the crease and a silly end to a wonderful innings.

Smit then chips the free hit over mid wicket for four and Derbyshire need 16 from the last four overs, with Wilson with him at the crease.

Wilson thrashes his first ball through extra cover for four from Azarullah, then clips him through mid wicket for a single. Ten to win after a wide, then two fine shots from Smit find diving fielders, before a single leaves nine required from three overs.

Smit takes another single, as does Wilson and a solid over leaves six to win from the last two.

There is an air of calm about proceedings that is a pleasure to watch. No need for daft shots and Wilson wins it in style with a straight drive for four!

Very professional. Extremely composed run chase, so unlike the sides we have seen in the past. The men we brought in over the winter were calm and steady at the death, but Shiv Thakor wins man of the match for three wickets and a majestic century, well supported by the skipper.

More from me later, or more likely a look back at the game when I get home tomorrow.

Derbyshire - it was an absolute pleasure to watch you bat today.

Well done!


8 comments:

  1. Excellent reporting Peakfan, thank you. You deserved to witness a win today!

    JK

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  2. Thanks JK..Knack and Mark..I have comments from the two of you but no text has come through.
    Please accept my apologies for that..though beyond my control!
    Feel free to re-send...

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  3. Saw most of it today great effort... now if we could roll over notts that would be something. Very reassuring to have wilson stroll out at 6 with the winning line in sight made you feel that there was no way we were going to pluck defeat from the jaws of victory as we have before. Thakor outstanding.

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  4. Cracking day's entertainment.

    Watching the Godleman-Thakor stand unfold was like watching a Ray Reardon break.

    Clinical, measured and controlled, but with the odd crowd-pleaser.

    Also, it worked out the way to beat Northants: don't let them chase.....!

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  5. Amazing run chase. Well done lads. Congrats to Shiv for an all round performance of high quality

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  6. Think it's safe to say that we are all feeling a little better tonight, still feel we need to get the bowling 'mix' right however credit to the bowlers for keeping them closer to 300 than 350. Bring on snotts. Who's going? I am and I cannot wait.

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  7. Great confidence boosting result, and brilliant stuff from an 80% fit Shiv Thakor. Onwards and upwards!.

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