Tuesday 20 August 2019

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 3

Derbyshire 200 and 305-3 (Godleman 86, Lace 69*, Madsen 69)

Gloucestershire 419 (Reece 4-91)

Derbyshire lead by 86 runs

They still need to work hard tomorrow to avoid defeat, and I am not convinced that anything more than a draw is possible on a wicket that seems to have eased considerably, but today could scarce have gone better than it did for Derbyshire today.

It was a quite splendid, grafting, resilient effort that brought us back into a game that we appeared out of last night. Starting with the quick mopping up of the visiting tail, the batsmen without exception got in, got their heads down yet were unafraid to punish the bad ball.

With plenty of batting to come, and both sides needing a win to reinforce their promotion push, a contrived finish is not beyond the realms of possibility tomorrow, but I struggle to see how we can come out on the right side of it, if it was attempted.

Gloucestershire could bowl us out in the morning, when conditions at Derby are always most helpful to bowlers, but would themselves be wary if it started moving around when they have to bat last.

But a day off tomorrow will enable me to watch the day's play and I hope that something happens, rather than the game simply petering out into a dull draw. Though it is fair to say that we need the win from the game more than Gloucestershire, who will remain very much in the mix, whatever the result.

Even at that, however, from where we were at the start of the day, Derbyshire can take great credit. I have seen plenty of sides representing the county that would have folded when 200 runs and counting behind.

This squad is made of sterner stuff.

And it is a pleasure to see.




8 comments:

  1. They dug in well and it went perfectly really. Shame Billy and Wayne couldn’t get the century hopefully Tom Lace will do the business tomorrow. Plenty of batting to come. Let’s see what happens. Shame we dig in when bonus points are gone but never mind. Clearly our pitch flattens out. Need a top spinner next season and a better seamer than LVB if gonna take 29 wickets regularly.

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  2. Was that the best days championship cricket we have played in 20 years? Quite extraordinary!!! To polish the tale off efficiency and bat the best part of the day losing just 3 wickets was remarkable when defeat looked certain. We racked up runs at a good rate too. Bat until 3 and we have saved the match and given ourselves even a very slim chance of victory. Bloody great work.

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    1. It was good, Nick! Solid, professional, impressive.

      More today would be great!

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  3. Hi Peakfan
    Can you advise where/how you watch the Derbyshire game(s) live please? Presume a streaming service, but could do with knowing where to look.
    Many thanks
    Dave, Wirral

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    1. Hi Dave the best way is to follow the club on Twitter, as they always post a link there before the start of play.
      But if you go to the club website online, then choose the link 'Match day Live' it will take you to their Tweets and a link.
      You can use this one

      http://cricket.derbyshireccc.com/match-centre/

      Hope that helps mate!

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  5. Yes - good disciplined batting. Few chances given although a couple of half chances it the slips. A curious innings from Madsen who was unusually cautious but he hit some lovely boundaries. Lace looks more impressive by the innings and if they don't go up will be interesting to see how Middlesex approach their squad next year. Why no Palladino - injured?

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  6. I think Gloucs might go for any target if they can't bowl us out quickly. A win would almost seal promotion for them, while a defeat would still leave them third and still well ahead of us. They might see opportunity rather than risk.

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