Derbyshire v Sussex day 1

Derbyshire 138 (Dal 35, Wiese 4-18)

Sussex 116-3

The last match of the county season is always one of mixed emotions.

Friends made and met, matches won and lost, exhilarating performances to remember, as well as a few to forget as quickly as possible. You cherish every day, especially as you get older, keeping fingers crossed that after another long and cold winter, we will all return again and be well.

Most cricket supporters are seeing this as a watershed summer, where things may never be the same again, while for players it is one of opportunity. There will be contracts for The Hundred for the best, a nice little earner to supplement their contracts, but the feeling around the ground today was one of hostility, fear and, it must be said, downright loathing.

It is hard to think how the English cricket authorities could have made a bigger mess of things than in a new competition that 'simplifies' a twenty over match. A competition that has been blessed by sell out crowds, terrific cricket and Derbyshire appearing on finals day, relegated to a sideshow that no one wants outside of the ECB.

Today it was nice to catch up with friends old and new at Derby. I had a chance encounter with Howard, a Derbyshire man through and through but now living in Florida, which put my trip to see the county into perspective. It was pleasant to spend time chatting Derbyshire cricket and family life, such meetings a major plus of writing this blog.

On the field it was rather as might have been expected. A Sussex side pressing for promotion, opting to bowl on a morning that was conducive to seam bowling. With an attack that contained three international bowlers and two young ones of genuine potential, batting was never easy. After the early loss of Luis Reece, Godleman and Madsen hinted at better things with a stand of 42, but after their dismissal in quick succession, either side of lunch, it was all downhill. du Plooy played a few pleasant shots, but some anaemic ones were coupled with sharp catching to adverse effect on the total.

du Plooy perished to a quick-witted rebound, Palladino to a fine grab by Rawlins at gully, but Hosein and McKiernan were both castled in consecutive balls by the excellent Wiese, one of the best Kolpaks on the circuit. It was an inauspicious championship debut for McKiernan, but his time will surely come.

My main concern, watching from various locations around the ground, is that we seem to have a lot of talented 'bits 'n' pieces players, but for another year need them to kick on to the next level. We know that Hughes (missed here), Dal, Hudson-Prentice, McKiernan and Critchley can all bat and bowl, but their natural place in the order is not obvious. Dal is the most stylish, but scored pleasing runs today on the back of a bad trot, despite a nasty blow on the thumb. I would bat both he and FHP  above Critchley and Hosein, but winter progress may see a natural batting order evolve. What was obvious was how badly Tom Lace is missed, as a quality middle-order batsman.

Tea was taken on the dismissal of Dal for a spirited 35, the innings ending at 138.

Yet any suggestion from the last wicket stand of 29 that conditions had eased were put to bed, as Palladino and Reece bowled beautifully with the new ball. Salt was caught by the swift-moving Critchley, running forward from slip, before Wells was comprehensively bowled, also by Reece, a bail being broken in the process. At the other end, Palladino, three wickets short of 350 for the county in first-class cricket, shaped the ball beautifully in both directions and gained several moral victories. A convincing shout from bowler, keeper and slips for a catch behind from van Zyl was met with a shake of the head from the umpire.

Thereafter, aside from FHP's removal of Beer, van Zyl and Rawlins rebuilt for the visitors. Melton, while lively, struggled for the right line and length in a short spell and there were too many extras from the home attack, twenty by the 25th over being overly generous. van Zyl continued to lead a charmed life and from successive deliveries from Luis the off bail was clipped, but not removed, then he was dropped by Critchley at gully. Rawlins too could have gone from strokes inappropriate in the last ten overs of the day but somehow they survived.