There was a first defeat of the season for the second team today, losing by four wickets to a Durham side that had nine players with first team experience at Denstone College.
Dinnie and McGladdery added 124 for the first wicket, the latter going on to an excellent century. After that the wheels came off the wagon and a final total of 218-9 was disappointing. The only other player to get going was Daryn Smit, with an unbeaten 34. Spinners Pringle and Harding did the damage, with 5 wickets between them, while Weighell, Coughlin and Rimmington shared the rest.
An early burst by the increasingly impressive Sam Conners threatened a surprise and his four wickets for 54 runs was an excellent effort. An unbroken century partnership between Carse and Weighell took Durham home, with time to spare.
Nonetheless, it was a decent effort by a side of four staff players, one from the Academy and six trialists
Scorecard :
http://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m9a2e569d-7b6c-4b24-92ca-3d21ccd85669
Over the past two days watching 2nd XI cricket at Derby and Denstone we've seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
ReplyDeleteThe good being an excellent game at Denstone, where supporters were made to feel welcome at an impressive venue. The wicket produced an even contest between bat and ball, and the fifty over format was long enough to allow the game to ebb and flow with both sides enjoying spells of dominance. Much more interesting than the 20 over slog fests like the Blast. In fact when the 100 ball farce takes pride of place next season, there will be a refuge to be found in the one day games played at out grounds between sides composed of rejected first teamers (dare I say Durham 2nd XI?) and enthusiastic youngsters (most of the Derbyshire team).
The bad being Derbyshire slipping back into their careless attitude to kit, that has been much improved this season. At one stage yesterday however, there were three 59s on the field! Will the real Sam Conners please step forward?
The ugly being the regrettable atmosphere at Derby for the last day of the 3 day game. I think almost everyone at the ground, yourself included judging by your report on day 2, was expecting a decent declaration from Derbyshire. For whatever reason, this was delayed and delayed until the game became meaningless and I went home. I was not the only one but I gather from the comments of others that I missed a confrontation between a member of the coaching staff and some of the sparse crowd. This, following unacceptable comments shouted out in frustration at the events on the pitch. I would be interested to know your views on this. My own being that such comments obviously have no place in the game, but that there are few enough spectators at Derbyshire games without driving away those that do make the effort to attend in the hope of seeing some entertaining, meaningful cricket and a close finish.
Wiggy
Well, Wiggy, I haven't heard anything about a 'confrontation'. But that wicket would have left only one team a chance to win, and it wasn't us.
ReplyDeletePeople can respectfully voice opinions as it is a free country, but this is all it is. I wouldn't let someone tell me how to do my job, who wasn't my boss, any more than anyone else.
And I would sooner see a dull draw and choose to go home as a result, than decide to gift a win to a much stronger opposition.
If we had set them around 320 in 50 overs they would have walked it...