Friday 18 August 2017

Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview by Huw Lloyd

Worcestershire arrive in Derby on Friday for the last round of Natwest T20 Blast matches knowing no matter what the outcome, they will finish in eighth place in the North Group and cap off what will have been a disappointing season for them in the shortest format of the game.
Derbyshire however find themselves in unusual territory, they know that a win will guarantee them a quarter final place for the first time since 2005 and unless Birmingham (it never feels right calling them that) or Leicestershire win by a massive margin, a home one at that. Should they draw or be rained a point may also be enough for Derbyshire, however this will then leave them looking at other results around the grounds to see if sides or the weather have done them favours.
Both sides are coming off the back of losses and will want to finish the group stages on a high, Worcestershire for pride and Derbyshire to secure a place in the knockout stages. Derbyshire losing last night to the Leicestershire Foxes in a low scoring game and the Falcons will be hoping their batting line up can fire against the Rapids. Worcestershire lost last time to Lancashire again in a low scoring game they never looked like winning and will be looking to be far more competitive when visiting Derby. Derby have only lost once at home this season and will be hoping to keep that record intact.
The bookies make Derbyshire favourites and it’s easy to see why, they have an excellent record and Worcestershire do not, however all the pressure on Derbyshire and none is on their visitors and pressure can do funny things in cricket. I would imagine most of the Derbyshire fans will be watching this game through their fingers, but only when they aren’t biting their nails. It may though however all be academic as the weather may be the ultimate winner if the forecast is to be believed.
Key Men
Derbyshire Falcons: If you have more strings to your bow in modern day cricket then you are a very attractive player in the coach’s eyes, and in Matt Critchley That is exactly what Derbyshire have. Elevated this season to open the batting due to his ability to strike the ball cleanly and clear the ropes, he has been a success. Throw in his ability to bowl leg spin effectively, having spent time learning from Shane Warne, Jeevan Mendis and lastly Imran Tahir, his bowling has come on leaps and bounds and he can keep it tight whilst taking wickets. Finally add his superb fielding, it is clear to see why Critchley’s success is key to Derbyshire’s.

Worcestershire Rapids: Who doesn’t love a six being hit? Well apart from the bowler, and in T20 cricket the Rapids have one of the best in Ross Whiteley, as when Whiteley fires they show themselves to be a side who can score big runs. The pinnacle of Whiteley’s powers were shown earlier in the campaign when he achieved the dream of six sixes in an over off Karl Karver against Yorkshire. If he can do something similar against his old side then their chances of upsetting the Falcons will be greatly enhanced.

Team News

Derbyshire will again will again be without T20 skipper Gary Wilson who is away on international duty with Ireland, so Daryn Smit will again take on the role of understudy. Derbyshire are yet to announce their squad, however I would anticipate an unchanged squad and side from the one which played vs Leicestershire and throughout the majority of campaign.

Worcestershire are also yet to announce their squad, but suffered no injuries in their previous game, so I envisage the squad being very similar to last time out. Now qualification is beyond them they have chosen to play their youngsters and if you are down at the game, keep an eye out for young paceman Josh Tongue, he has genuine pace and a great future in the game.

Derbyshire Falcons squad: TBA
Worcestershire Rapids squad: TBA

Form

Derbyshire Falcons: LWLWWA
Worcestershire Rapids: LLLLWW

Weather and conditions
The current forecast for Derby on Friday night shows rain for the duration of the match, so if they do get any cricket then Duckworth and Lewis may well be required. The last game at Derby produced a low scoring match, prior to this though Derby has seen high scoring games and batsmen really enjoying themselves. With there having been better weather around in the area in the last few days, the groundsman will have had more preparation time and hopefully if the precipitation stays away we will see a return to pitches more akin to runscoring.

Date: 18th August 2017
Time: 19:30pm
Ground: 3aaa County Ground, Derby
Umpires: TBC and TBC
Odds (SkyBet): Derbyshire Falcons 4/6 Worcestershire Rapids 6/5
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Huw Lloyd writes for Deep Extra Cover


8 comments:

  1. Time to step up now. No if's, no buts, Win and we are okay, lose and who knows where we will be???
    I hope the team are sticking together, and not pointing fingers at each other after last nights dire performance.
    For this last group game, we need a 100% performance from everybody.
    I would be a lot more confident if Gary Wilson were playing, but he isn't, so we go with what we've got.
    I've been a bit surprised at young Brodrick getting criticism for his batting last night, especially in that he achieved the second top score, with the third highest strike rate. It was always difficult for him coming in when he did, and perhaps in hindsight the skipper should have sent him in earlier. He is, after all a comparative novice in professional cricket.
    Having said that, I would go with Tom Wood this evening, primarily due to the fact that he can give the ball a good smack.
    Come on you Falcons, don't let us down now.

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  2. The forecast now looks pretty solid for heavy rain at Derby and Nottingham for the duration of the match time, but prospects for some play at Northampton and Manchester. If this turns out to be the case, Notts have 19 points, Derbyshire 16, and Leics 16 but with an inferior run rate. It's pretty safe to assume that Northants will win if there is play at Northampton, so will finish on 16 points as well but with a hugely inferior run rate thanks to Yorks. Yorkshire and Lancashire are out of the equation if three other teams reach 16 points, and if the Bores win, they will be on 17 points. So, Notts, Bores, Derbyshire and Leics qualify in that order. If Lancs win, Notts, Derbyshire, Leics and Northants qualify in that order. Even if there is play at Nottingham and Leicester, Northants and Bores win, Notts, Bores, Leics and Derbyshire qualify, unless Northants win by such a huge margin as to wipe out their huge run-rate deficit. We would also qualify in second place if Notts play and win.

    So, Derbyshire supporters can relax and enjoy the rain. The only scenarios I can find in which Derbyshire don't qualify is if there's a no result for Derbyshire, and wins for Bores, Leics and Northants (by a huge margin); or we lose and Leics, Northants win and there is a positive result at Manchester. And frankly, if we lose to Worcs at home, we wouldn't deserve to be in the quarter-finals, and there wouldn't be any point.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tim, Chesterfield18 August 2017 at 11:24

    I'm in two minds whether to bother travelling given the forecast. Frustrating as it's sunny and dry here now and little sign of bad weather.....

    I don't want to miss it though if we get a game in.

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  4. Martin said

    Hopefully it's not a five over thrash (or whatever the minimum is)
    and we end up getting beat by batting first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That could be the problem. Rain around doesn't always mean an abandoned game and 5 over slogs here and there could spell trouble..

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  5. If the latest forecast is accurate i think we really need to be batting second. I will be there.. hoping we can
    see this through.

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  6. Very poor total by Derbyshire, I think we've blown this. Hope I'm proved wrong.

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  7. Proved wrong again, lol. Well done lads history has been made, but let's get that batting improved please. Can't expect to get past the quarters with these poor totals. Wayne Madsen yet again leading from the front, another match winning knock.

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