Leicestershire 312-8 (Ackerman 119 Reece 2-59, Hughes 2-55)
Derbyshire 266-3 (Godleman 106, du Plooy 73*, Madsen 60) D/L
Derbyshire won by seven wickets
Derbyshire finally limped over the line against Leicestershire today, but made more of a meal of the game's closing stages than should really have been the case.
It was a good batting performance, batting second, tarnished only by two run outs that were shoddy, both featuring Billy Godleman.
It is again difficult to be unduly critical of a man who has scored a century. His average over the past two seasons in this competition is Bradmanesque, but he was at fault in the run out of Luis Reece, while it was a classic case of the 'biter, bit' in the closing over of the game.
There were an easy three runs when Luis was out. He made them, only to find that midway through the third his captain had not moved and turned his back on him as he made his ground. Reece had to go, unfortunate as he looked in good touch.
Wayne Madsen came in and batted beautifully, easing past fifty before assaying a reverse sweep off Colin Ackerman and being palpably leg before.
Billy had played some fine shots himself and looked in control, as he and Leus du Plooy ate into the target and kept us on target. Both players cleared the ropes and du Plooy looks a player of high quality. The more I see him, I am reminded of JP Duminy, his speed between the wickets and languid stroke play very similar, so too his build.
Tom Taylor bowled well at the death for them and it left 8 runs required from the last. Having swung and missed at the second ball, the skipper called for two from the fourth and du Plooy didn't move. Godleman was run out by the length of the pitch. It was a fine innings again. though once more strangely becalmed after the century, when he added only five runs from his last eleven deliveries.
It left six runs from the last three balls, but after a swing and miss, the South African delivered. Four from the first, a sprinted two from the last, to complete an excellent innings and seal the points.
There were no doubt amicable discussions in the dressing room tonight, but having the game won, we made that a lot harder than it should have been.
Earlier, a makeshift attack, shorn of its most experienced bowlers, did well to limit the home side to under 350. Ackerman batted beautifully, but wickets fell often enough for our purposes. Reece bowled splendidly, Hughes did well and Watt was tidy.
Alfie Gleadall was brought to earth after his three wickets at the weekend, but I thought Sam Conners had a good debut in the tournament, and it is an unforgiving game for young bowlers, as we know.
We must hope for the return of Rampaul for Friday, or we will be looking down a barrel. Yet we largely batted very well today, not for the first time this season.
Two wins from three games is where we would have hoped to be at this stage.
As a team, they could scarce have done more.
I feel suitably encouraged to go to Headingley on Friday.
ReplyDeleteConsidering we were missing our 2 main pace bowlers that was a brilliant bowling performance & win. From being in control to scrambling home off the last ball was not good. We could have easily tied that game with 7 wickets in hand. Hopefully the coaching staff can sort that out. How young was that team, our youngest ever? I reckon the average age was about 25.
ReplyDeleteThe paradox of Godleman. You cant criticise his effort or his accumulation of runs , which has been quite outstanding. Yet there are aspects of his game, which he seems unwilling or more likely unable to alter. Having shouldered huge responsibility and shown tremendous perseverence, he virtually lost us the game. Only by the superb du Plooy standing up to the almost blinkered Godleman by refusing to run, did we manage to snatch victory. In truth, as much as I wanted to win the match, I was as frustrated with the Captain as I was impressed- he certainly is a unique individual. The final result obviously casts a favorable light on the proceedings but the Reece run-out, the lack of runs at crucial times when plenty of wickets remain and the refusal or inability to adapt - well, what can you say?
ReplyDeleteFine win, Du Pleuy hopefully is a real find. Can't have that bowling attack starting against Yorkshire though, they'll get 400.
ReplyDeleteWe did it - but only just. With eight overs to go, only two wickets down and a run rate of 7ish, we were cruising to victory. I still can't work out how we needed up at the last ball. Leicestershire were really buried, but they ended up within a whisker of a victory.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments about Billy - it's so hard to criticise him after his three innings in the Royal London. Madsen was Madsen ((outstanding today) and du Plooy did the business...but somewhere along the line (in the last 8 overs) we risked throwing the game away. This really shouldn't happen. We should have put the foot on the pedal in those last few overs, and not let the game drift to the wire.
But, as I say, we got there, just. A true learning experience for Connors and Gleadall, who gave everything and who are both young and both keen.
Yorkshire will prove a tougher opposition, no doubt. But we have a team brimming with confidence and energy, so we can do it.
Has anyone said where the NZ lad was? Other than 'family commitments' which could be anything from a trip to the zoo to painting his Nan's garden fence.
ReplyDeleteBilly surely knows his game by now ( unlikely to have a strike rate above 100 but can get us through the first 30 overs ) and for me he needs to know when to chance his arm / fall on his sword for the good of the team
ReplyDeleteAgainst Notts he began to toil and that put pressure on the lower order to try and go hard straight away in the short time left
Faith in the coach to develop that area