Glamorgan 521-8
Derbyshire 318 and 360-0 (Reece 201*, Came 141*)
Match drawn
By the time the captains shook hands, they had extended their partnership to an unbroken 360, with Reece having reached a career-best double century and Came also registering a career-highest score
Only Chris Rogers has scored more runs in a match for Derbyshire than Reece did here, with both batters amply illustrating why they were offered and thankfully signed two year contracts this week.
Regardless of the flat nature of the pitch, this was a monumental effort by the two of them. You still have to make runs on a track that is very much in your favour and I have seen plenty of Derbyshire sides over the years who might have made a mess of the final day here.
They batted for four sessions and showed tremendous powers of concentration and fitness, as well as considerable style.
I wrote last night that Glamorgan's best chance of a win was to set Derbyshire a total and bowl us out as we went for that. Realistically, I think the odds would have been in Derbyshire's favour in that situation, because it was such a good wicket for batting, throughout.
One thing that today appeared to confirm is that David Lloyd, when he appears in the county colours next year, will need to revert to the middle order, from whence he came. Much of his career has been spent batting at five or six and he only moved up the order in Glamorgan's hour of need. He has done well in that role, but the resident openers could not have done more to convince. Mickey Arthur that they are the answer to at least one of the problems ahead of next season.
They should be in prime form for the fifty over friendly on Sunday against Lincolnshire, and for the competition that follows it.
Sincere congratulations are due to both of them and I am delighted to report that pieces of the future. Derbyshire jigsaw have been firmly put into place.
I will be back tomorrow with a preview of the one-day cup, which for Derbyshire starts on Tuesday at Cheltenham.
Lovely to see Came and Reece scoring big knocks but in the grander scheme of things this game was as poor as could possibly be. How does a game like this when there's zero help for bowlers attract fans to watch the four day game? A huge concern this game, a bitterly disappointing affair
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant effort. I'm pleased the previous record fell as, if memory serves, it was the result of "buffet" bowling by Northamptonshire to set up a run chase. Today's incredible stand was the opposite - acheived under the pressure of a follow on. Reece is a class act, and is, as class acts do, proving his immense value after a not so prolific spell.
ReplyDeleteCame is a high- class young player who is having an excellent season and looks an excellent prospect for the re-built squad in 2024.
Heartt congratulations to both!
Pleased to see the opening pair rather emphatically putting a claim on those positions going forwards.
ReplyDeleteShould such form continue then it frees us up to use the overseas batting slot very much as a middle order one if needed to slot in for Du Plooy next season though Lloyd himself might already be that player. An absolute gun bat like a Janneman Malan or Josh Clarkson would be a tasty fit into a top 6 of Reece, Came, Guest, Madsen, overseas bat, Lloyd.
I hope we can look for a young and promising opener to come in and offer depth for the opening pair. Mitch Wagstaff might be that player as I believe he opens for the seconds usually.
Always thought Malan a fine player but when I have seen him he gets out in daft ways! Certainly a talent though. Clarkson would be a good call, all rounder, always have a lot of time for Kiwis and it might be the finishing school he needs
DeleteA magnificent performance by our openers but the blandness of the pitch is best summed up by the Cricinfo report. This points out that a prayer room is being constructed at the ground and wonders if bowlers will be queuing up to get in there and seek divine intervention in order to take wickets on the Derby pitch.
ReplyDeleteA monumental effort from Harry and Luis, I can't recall a chance given by either of them today as they were in complete control. Pleased for Harry as he has now cemented his place in the four day side. Delighted for Luis, who I felt received some unfair criticism in the comments section of this blog. He has been a fine player for us in the past, he certainly was today and given the head coach showing his faith in him with a two-year contract, I'm sure he will be in the future.
ReplyDeleteBut how can a pitch be so bland on the fourth day? When would it begin to deteriorate? Day 10?
Hats off to Leus Reece and Harry Came for an extraordinary batting performance on day four. They have fully justified the decision to give them two year contracts. I was a little concerned that Reece’s form had dipped and l put that down to the burden of opening the batting and bowling in the past with subsequent injury and surgery. Hopefully he will never have to undertake that workload again.
ReplyDeleteEqually pleased for Harry Came as the side has been crying out for an opener who can occupy the crease.
However, the club certainly needs to do something about the Derby wicket otherwise the winless run at HQ will continue.
Nudger
Great effort by the two today but have to say I agree with all about the pitch. A more sporting home pitch would surely give us more chance of the wins we need to climb the table. Looking at the table there’s such a paucity of wins in the division barring Durham that we could easily have been in second place. We had chances and could easily have won at Sussex and Worcester along with at home to Leicester and Yorkshire so we are not a million miles away despite when people are saying. Clearly we are missing a strike bowler but I suspect the pitch again hardly gives confidence to messyrs Connors, Chappell et all!
ReplyDeleteSuperb batting by Reece and Came. Reece's formed seemed to have dipped after last season, but he has shown that he is still a top player. Came has really come on this season, both in the CC and the T20, and he is developing into an excellent batsman.
ReplyDelete