Essex 366-6 (Westley 118, Benkenstein 74, Allison 64, Walter 45, Chappell 2-64, Aitchison 2-74)
Derbyshire 322 (Came 139, Montgomery 108, Critchley 3-59)
Essex won by 44 runs
I didn't see much of the first innings, because I was having lunch with an old cricket friend. But I was back in time to see the Derbyshire reply and for a long time, during a superb partnership between Harry Came and Matt Montgomery, a surprise win looked possible.
I don't think it's possible to bat much better than those two did today in a stand of 225 for the second wicket. Came's footwork and assessment of length was superb up to the last ball that he faced and he looked a very good player today. Montgomery simply looked the player I knew we were getting.. classy, with time to spare and a full range of shots. He seldom lifts the ball and once again was a joy to watch. All he ever needed was opportunity and he will get that here.
Only when Simon Harmer started pitching wider and getting considerable turn did the game do the same. Both Montgomery and Basra were bowled by extravagant spin (the former dragging on) and the injury to Martin Andersson took on additional significance when Zak Chappell came in at six. With an already long tail, there was simply not enough batting to come. Once Guest was run out by a brilliant stop and throw from Walter, the result was a foregone conclusion. Some lusty late blows from Haydon (26) delayed the result and made the eventual margin less than looked likely.
I won't comment on the bowling today, simply because I didn't see it, but the visiting tally tells its own story.
On the positive side, a top four next summer of Came, Jewell, Montgomery and Madsen should ensure that Derbyshire usually get runs on the board.
That's all from me tonight, I will leave you to add your comments in the usual manner.
Typical Derbyshire. A big stand to get into a winning position, then one gets out and the rest collapse like a pack of cards. Last 8 wickets for 79 runs.
ReplyDeleteMichael
No batting today, Michael. Chappo is a decent bat but not at 6, when it is turning. It was always a long tail today but. Hawkins will eventually become a good number seven, but it is too high for him just now
DeleteRepeat. Bowling very poor, batting pretty decent. Until we get a couple of decent bowlers that can take wickets, especially in the middle overs, this will be the result in 9 games out of 10. Grant from Telford.
ReplyDeleteThe tail looked long before we lost Andersson, but again batting wasn't the problem. We've scored plenty of runs in this competition but we’ve just not been able to take wickets which has put the bowling under pressure in the last 10 overs and the batters under pressure from ball one.
ReplyDeleteThe benefit of having a decent and experienced overseas bowler showed today. A magnificent and enjoyable partnership between Montgomery and Came both of whom batted brilliantly. We weren’t helped by the injury to Andersson which exposed the tail early. We need to review the bowling coaching set up in my opinion and prioritise a decent overseas bowler for next season.
ReplyDeleteJoe hawkins had a poor game today. Dropped an easy catch and didn’t bowl his best. But nevertheless he will learn and he will continue to develop whilst being in the 1st team. For older more experienced players they don’t have an excuse and the bowling has to improve. Montgomery and came were class but sadly the score was too high to chase despite 2 magical knocks.
ReplyDeleteIn other news our 18’s seem to have got off to a great start today!!
I assume Dal was left out for Morley, which meant we were a batter short, even without Andersson's injury. We have certainly missed Patel and Moore with the ball, from last year's 50 over team. Kris
ReplyDeleteA final game to sum up Derbyshires season/ competition. Great innings from Came and Montgomery but apart from that almost nothing. M. Arthur said a couple of games ago it’s all about fine margins but it’s really not. We are miles behind most clubs. We had less players missing in this competition then any other club but still finished almost bottom in a group of nine. It’s obvious that unless we get a very good loan pace bowler for the final 3 championship games to drag the others along we can only hope for 3 draws at the very best. With our attack it would have to be a minefield for us to get 20 wickets. Never mind though the Mickey Arthur project has probably got at least another 3 years to run.
ReplyDelete5 scores of over 300 have produced 1 tie and 4 defeats.
ReplyDeletePretty clear where the problem lies.
I can't count, 1 win.
ReplyDeleteOnly Derbyshire can collapse like this after a huge stand between Came and Montgomery. Once again, when victory was in sight they bottled it.
ReplyDeleteI disagree about not missing players. Don't forget Moore was in the Hundred, bar injury. So, that would have been four. Add in injuries to Reece, Dal (mostly), Lloyd and Thomson and Patel leaving. Tickner gone home.That's 10 missing I think. Basra, Haydon and Hawkins some of the the most inexperienced players in the tournament, in any team. Not excuses, but 10 is a lot, if you ask me. Kris
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair summation.
DeleteWe have had 4 years now to judge the direction of travel under Mickey and whether the squad is evolving to a position of strength supported by a sustainable pipeline of talent .In terms of results here goes ,albeit some formats have changed linked to Covid and ECB direction. here goes …. Pre 2022 is previous coaching team
ReplyDeleteChampionship
2019 7th/10. 2020 3rd/ 8. 2021.6th/6
2022. 5th/8. 2023. 7th/8. 2024 8th/8. 2025. 3/8 tbc
T20
2019 3rd/9 ( QF) 2020 6th/6 2021 8th/9
2022 6th/9. 2023 3rd/9(QF). 2024 6th/9. 2025 9th/9
50 over
2019 6th/9. 2020 no comp. 2021 9th/9
2022 7th/9. 2023 8th/9. 2024 4th /9. 2025 8th/9
In terms of results the Championship and 50 overs are of particular disappointment.
Our red ball performances have been a concern over the last 3 seasons with a number of overseas appointments no better than county stalwarts , Lakmal,Haider,Dupavillon,Tickner to name but 4 .
Since the introduction of the 16.4 comp we have lost the least squad members but the general outcome has been also below expectation versus other teams mixture of core professionals and 2nd team .
In T20 we cannot compete budget wise with Yorkshire ,Lancashire ,Notts ,Warwickshire and Durham so the expectation can be tempered somewhat .
Looking back I’d say below expectation with a lot of learning along the way linked to recruitment and player development ( particularly bowling ) looking forwards we have a good crop of batsmen in the right age profile ably led by Madsen and Jewell .The bowling is a worry but Moore , Hayden and Hawkins could transform that view with fitness and form .We desperately need an overseas quick bowler to lead the attack ( Michael Neser , Nathan McAndrew,) or similar .
Sadly this season feels like it’s falling away , I hope I’m wrong and we finish the Championship in our best place for a number of seasons albeit with the irony of not yet knowing the format of the League structure for 2026 ..
Excellent post, Paul. A lot of work has gone into that. And you are right. There are no obvious signs of improvement, certainly not in league position
DeleteIt is a excellent post. It’s sold as one of Mickey Arthur’s strong points that he has a lot of contact’s in the game so should sign a few good overseas players occasionally but his signings have been awful. If you notice to a lot of dodgy football managers talk about projects. They are normally the ones who never achieve much anywhere but obviously it buys them another couple of seasons on good wages before the inevitable happens
Delete