Second team watching

It is rare when I miss an opportunity to watch Derbyshire play at any level. So today it was nice to be able to watch the second team in a double header T20 against Warwickshire.

Both sides fielded players of considerable experience. Critchley, Hughes, Dal and Watt joined Smit in our side, while overseas professional Ashton Agar joined Ed Pollock and Alex Mellor for the visitors.

They opted to bat in the first game and the home bowling, with its heavy emphasis on spin, was reminiscent of the Indian side of the 1970s. That was as far as it got, however, as the quality was a little varied. Only Watt came out of it with reputation intact, bowling an intelligent spell that might have been better but for shoddy fielding.

It is impossible to tell on the stream by who, but a few of the younger players might benefit from less obviously displaying their displeasure and frustration. Agar took advantage of this and played an excellent innings, as one might expect from a cricketer of international experience at this level. He finished on an unbeaten 84 from 47 balls as Warwickshire finished on 181-3.

It was positively parsimonious compared to the early overs by Warwickshire, which were hideous at times in direction. Wood and Critchley put on 50 in five overs, before the former, after a few bucolic strokes, swung across the line and was bowled.

The introduction of Agar brought greater control, though it was the left arm leg spin of Lintott that removed Critchley. He was a little starved of the strike and holed out at long on after a breezy innings.

Derbyshire needed a partnership and someone to play an 'Agar innings'. Dal came in to join Hughes, who had started sketchily, but soon began to find his range. Three powerful boundaries from Lintott brought down the rate, but Barrett bowled a good one at Dal to take it back up.

Fifty-five were needed from the last five overs, but once Lamb cleverly removed Hughes with a slow yorker it was effectively over. Dal couldn't score at the required rate and canny bowling saw the visitors win by 25 runs, the innings ending at 156-7.

The second game was much different, as Derbyshire took the opportunity to field the first team and give much-needed practice ahead of the T20.

Agar again batted aggressively, before being undone by the impressive Watt. He and van Beek were the powerplay bowlers and did a fine job. Logan finished with 3-28, taking two in his first over, while Mark took 2-19. It made for heartening viewing, albeit qualified by the opposition.

The visitors made 134-9.

Then came carnage, which  highlighted the difference between second and first team cricket. Reece hit a six and was caught going for a second, then Godleman and Madsen took the score to 84 by the end of the powerplay. Both hit freely and Madsen reached a half century in just 21 balls, before he too holed out in the deep, this after batting as if it were a beer match.

Godleman went the same way, the top order clearly rehearsing their long hitting, before du Plooy and Lace took Derbyshire to a win in the 13th over.

The South African finished it with another huge six, and it was a fine run out for the side before the competition proper begins.

Scorecard https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m38f08dd1-1259-480a-9442-e85aefa47f00