Northamptonshire 219 (Zaib 90, Broad 45, Andersson 2-28, Chappell 2-33)
Derbyshire 65-1 (Reece 39*, Guest 20*)
Derbyshire trail by 154 runs
The Indian is a wonderful player, but plays in similar vain to Nye Donald, a defensive shot almost a personal slight. It would have been nice to have seen him in full flow today, but it was even better to see him walking back to the pavilion so early.
David Lloyd used seven bowlers and all of them took wickets. There was a maiden one in first- class cricket for Harry Moore, no more than he deserved for a remarkably accurate spell of bowling at such a tender age. Martin Andersson also impressed with two wickets on his return 'debut' and will clearly be an asset next summer. Chappell again led from the front and while the spinners were expensive, there was sufficient turn to appreciate batting last may not be the easiest of tasks on a used pitch pretty much shaved of grass. As you would, with a world-class spinner in your eleven..
Excellent catches were taken, Donald taking a fine low one at third slip, while Guest held a very good low one and took a smart stumping later in an excellent display behind the stumps. Such is his consistency that it is easy to take him for granted, but there were no byes today, in a flawless display of wicket-keeping in which he kept the field on their toes.
Only when the excellent Saif Zaib and Justin Broad added 73 for the seventh wicket did the home side suggest they were going to turn the tide. Zaib's knock was outstanding on a pitch that was far from easy, but Lloyd used his bowlers well and 219 all out by tea would have been ahead of aspirations at the start.
Harry Came didn't last long as Ben Sanderson probed in time-honoured fashion with the new ball and Broad got the wicket, but the expected threat from Chahal didn't really materialise tonight, despite the Indian giving it plenty of air. Both Reece and Guest seemed to read him well and played him late, both surving to the close with good technique and excellent concentration.
The plan now is ideally to bat for around a day and a half, though one can never be sure that's how things will pan out. There is considerable depth to the batting, however, with Moore at ten, so hopefully there are strong contributions down the order.
In conclusion? It would be very difficult to fault the efforts today. We dominated because of an excellent team effort in which everyone contributed in some way.
When you see that level of commitment there can be no complaints.
More of the same tomorrow, please.
A very enjoyable days of cricket. The accuracy of the seam bowlers was telling. Too often one or two prove expensive which stops the build up of pressure but all 4 were right on it today.
ReplyDeleteHello Steve, as you are our de facto headmaster, can I suggest a Derbyshire D- for the first two thirds of the season, and a B+ for this last third? Even in the Sussex defeat I felt there was more gumption shown than in any of those awful early season games. Any clues to why the marked improvement?
ReplyDeleteHi Dave, probably a fair comment, flattered to be deemed the headmaster!
DeleteReasons? Bowling better, less cheap runs given away. Catching better. Runs down the order and lesser opposition in the ODC. People better aware of roles in side. Appreciation that the HOC
will stay and is perhaps in this for the long haul?
DeleteThat was an excellent all round performance with ball and bat. Not had too many such days this season but just hope day two is equally successful and we can build a substantial lead.
ReplyDeleteZak Chappell continues to impress and he was ably supported by Harry Moore, Luis Reece and loanee Martin Andersson before the spinners made further inroads later on. All of this backed up by some good catches and stumping. Cannot complain at all about that welcome performance from a rejuvenated Derbyshire team.
Nudger