Derbyshire v Surrey One Day Cup

Surrey 388-4 (Thomas 162, Sykes 115, Barnwell 43*, Chappell 3-61)

Derbyshire 345 (Montgomery 114, Jewell 77, Guest 48, Basra 39, Majid 3-57, Karvelas 3-73, Sykes 2-58

Surrey won by 43 runs

This is my 59th summer watching Derbyshire and I cannot recall a more shambolic bowling performance than they offered today.

With the exception of Zak Chappell and Joe Hawkins, who kept a line, length and bowled to their fields, the rest was horrendous. 

Let's not forget this was against Surrey 2nds/3rds. A team with only one senior player, in Rory Burns, who was quickly back in the dressing room and able to watch as Adam Thomas and Ollie Sykes dismantled the home attack in a third wicket stand of 265 in just 34 overs. I take nothing away from the batting of both talented young men in recording their excellent maiden centuries in first-class cricket, but they will have faced better bowling in the Seconds, maybe even the Surrey Leagues.

It was an appalling, indisciplined effort  which contained eight no balls and twenty wides. Nick Potts even managed a no ball wide, which has rarity value, but the major concern has to be Pat Brown. 

Ten overs for 114 runs speaks of a massive crisis in confidence and form which has been pretty much season-long. He would appear to have totally lost his mojo and one has to question the bowling coach, Ajmal Shahzad. I cannot think of a single bowler who has improved this summer, despite the protestations of Mickey Arthur that every single member of the squad has done so. Is there a disconnect between coach and players? The evidence suggests so.

Brown is a good lad and certainly not without talent, as he has shown in the past, but maybe needs a different coach or environment. On the basis of today, they all do, because that was embarrassing to watch. Truly, undeniably awful. You can get hammered around the park at times when not bowling too badly, but that was not the case today.

I felt for Brooke Guest, because I have been there as a captain, when everyone is going around the park and no one seems able to bowl to whatever field is agreed. 

Given Derbyshire historically reach nose bleed territory chasing over 275, the Surrey total of 388-4 suggested a defeat was forthcoming.

So it transpired, despite a century of class by Matt Montgomery, who barely lifted a ball off the ground in anchoring the chase. There are similarities to Wayne Madsen in build and technique, but he looks a player of the highest calibre and it will not be his last century for the club. 

Caleb Jewell batted very well, without going on to the big innings that was needed today. So too did Brooke Guest and Amrit Basra, who in contrasting styles helped the score to mount.

Yet Derbyshire were never really ahead of the game. How can you be, chasing such a total? The debutant left arm spinner Ralphie Albert, only seventeen, bowled an excellent spell that slowed the scoring, but the telling contribution again came from Sykes, captain for the day. 

I don't think batting is Derbyshire's biggest problem, but a discerning county could do worse than approach Surrey for a season-long loan for the 20-year old. He doesn't look like getting anywhere near their first team in the immediate future, but is clearly ready for the level and its challenges. His century earlier was brilliant (with the caveat of the bowling standard) but here his slow bowling earned respect. Adam Thomas also looked a good bat, more circumspect until reaching three figures, but then cutting loose in excellent fashion.

Montgomery eventually went for 113 to Karvelas, the loanee from Sussex. 81 were needed to win with seven overs left and the heroes of Leicester, Dal and Chappell, were at the crease.

But there was to be no reprise and Derbyshire slipped to a very poor defeat that ended their interest in another competition.

This to a club that carries a squad of around forty players, yet had to borrow a seamer, because they were short.

Wow...there are no words.