Derbyshire V Sussex day3

Derbyshire 138 and 437

Sussex 231 and 163 (Critchley 3-9, Dal 3-11, Hudson-Prentice 3-36)

Derbyshire won by 181 runs

The last two days of cricket in Derbados could scarce have gone better than they did.

Derbyshire roundly thrashed Sussex, ending their promotion aspirations while perhaps realising that it could have been us pushing to go up.

First day struggles notwithstanding, we played some excellent cricket here. Yesterday's Godleman/Reece stand was extraordinary, as was the bowling that preceded it. Today, without the injured Tony Palladino, an inexperienced attack tore through the visiting ranks.

Once again, Hudson-Prentice was outstanding taking the wickets of van Zyl and Wiese in successive balls. Yet so was Anuj Dal, who might just be confirming himself as a bowler who can offer useful runs, rather than the other way round. Who knows, a winter's work may see the emergence of a genuine all rounder.

Matt Critchley took the last three wickets and ensured that not only we go to Edgbaston in good heart, but have a day tomorrow to work on those T20 skills.

This morning's collapse suggested that Sussex may have a glimmer of hope, after a fine spell by Ollie Robinson, but they couldn't put together any kind of stand.

A win like that will keep us in good heart until the Spring.

A couple of wins on Saturday will see us floating on air until then.