Derbyshire 268-6 (Godleman 87, Critchley 64*)
Northamptonshire 215 all out (Procter 50*, Hughes 4-44, van Beek 3-50)
Derbyshire won by 53 runs
In keeping with the way of things this season, Billy Godleman opted to bat after winning the toss in glorious sunshine.
Luis Reece was caught behind from the bowling of Jason Holder in the first over. Then Madsen and Godleman batted with fluency to take the score quickly past fifty, before Wayne played at a ball he should really have left alone and was quickly followed back into the pavilion by Alex Hughes.
Leus du Plooy announced himself with successive boundaries as he and the skipper rebuilt the innings. He looks a player of class and, after the score had passed the hundred mark he was unlucky to chop on, from the bowling of the giant Muzarabani.
I thought at the time that the giant fast bowlers were bowling too short and each was punished as the innings came to a conclusion. Godleman had found the middle of his bat elusive in the early part of his innings, but timing eventually came and he played some fine strokes, first accompanied by Lace and then Critchley. The latter took control when Billy was eventually bowled for 87 and he played a mature knock in the circumstances. His partnership of 47 in the last 5 overs with Hosein took the total from an average one to something more challenging. They were quick between the wickets and played some audacious strokes.
Last night I mentioned the dangerous openers of Northamptonshire and they were both back in the pavilion inside the first four overs. Both Rampaul and van Beek bowled well, each assisted by a brilliant catch by Alex Hughes.
Alex then ripped out the middle order and came back to take the final wicket after late resistance from Procter and Sanderson. His 3 catches and four wickets must have run his captain close for the man of the match award, but without the skipper's dogged determination and runs, the result could have been quite different.
It was, again, a fine team performance by Derbyshire in which everyone contributed. They will face sterner opposition in this group and Nottinghamshire on Sunday will present a far bigger challenge.
Yet tonight we are still unbeaten and a good-sized crowd will have gone home happy and enthused about the prospects for the season ahead.
Derbyshire la la la, great win and promising early signs to the season.
ReplyDeleteWell done lads was monitoring alerts on cricinfo. Pleasing result. Much prefer critchley as a finisher in white ball cricket. Impressive start keep it up
ReplyDeleteReally pleasing to see the development of both Hughes and Critchley- both have matured greatly and are contributing significantly. I did feel Alex was slightly out of his depth batting at 4 and personally would like to see him and Lace swap position. Du Plooy looked quality from the outset. He looks compact and well-balanced at the wicket, running the first run quickly and being aware all the time. Loved the look of him and it is exactly what the side needs. It should ease the pressure on Wayne Madsen as well. There will be great challenges ahead but the side seems steady now and should be competitive on a mor consistent basis. Great to feel that genuinely.
ReplyDeleteI made a point on watching Du Plooy (online rather than in person) as the 'new boy' and I have to say initial impressions are very good. Quick feet and a real sense of someone with purpose who knows their game. I think he'll score good runs in all formats .
ReplyDeleteI like the balance of the XI yesterday but would agree with the above suggestion that swapping Lace and Hughes around makes sense. Reece could do with grinding out a knock like Godleman did as he looked dreadful for the first 25 overs but it shows his guts and character as a man and a cricketer that rather toss away his wicket searching for the middle of his bat he would ride out the storm and let it happen naturally.