Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire T20

Nottinghamshire 198-6 (Clarke 57, Hales 49, Melton 2-37, Hughes 2-34)

Derbyshire 185-6 (Madsen 68, Critchley 44, Hughes 36*)

Nottinghamshire won by 13 runs

It was another defeat for Derbyshire at Nottingham today, but this time there was no disgrace.

They ran a Nottinghamshire side with a near international attack pretty close, eventually losing by 13 runs. This after a spirited run chase that was always just behind the required rate, after the early loss of both openers for ducks.

Madsen made a sparkling 68 from 46 balls, Critchley an excellent 44 from 28, while Alex Hughes improvised to great effect for his unbeaten 36 from 20 balls.

It ultimately wasn't enough against a side with two overseas stars and an England man who plays only one-day cricket, but it was a fine effort.

I didn't see the home side's innings with a family commitment, but the figures are far more respectable than the other night. I will let you all comment on it and any missed opportunities, but Dustin Melton's figures look impressive and he held two catches too, while Alex Hughes confirmed a fine all round game with two wickets. Matt Critchley too can be proud of a good  effort in the game.

I look forward to your comments, but for me, a thirteen run deficit is the kind you would expect to be made up, with bat or ball, by your overseas stars. 

No disgrace, no major disappointment. 

On to the next  - and something similar may bring a long - awaited win. 

Durham v Derbyshire T20

Durham 223-2 (Lees 77*, Raine 71)

Derbyshire 168-5 (Reece 42, Du Plooy 53*)

Durham won by 55 runs

While giving due credit to the home side's powerful batting, I can only say that was one of the worst bowling and fielding displays I have seen by a Derbyshire side tonight.

With the exception of Wayne Madsen, no one seemed to be able to bowl anything close to the requisite line and length. There was poor handling in the field, fudged catches, dives over the top of the ball.. genuinely I cannot write about how poor that was.

There was never a chance of a win after such a display. Luis Reece batted nicely, as did Du Plooy, but we were never close to the rate. Even Durham fielding that was equally bad failed to make a difference. 

I will leave it there. From a fan's perspective, that was woeful.

Let's just say I am not hopeful, ahead of Trent Bridge on Sunday. 

Season review - the Bob Willis Trophy

 At the end of a season that was far shorter than anyone wanted, Derbyshire ended up a second in their group, pipped at the post by Yorkshire. They were the fifth best performing team in the country, with the best record of any side ostensibly in division two of the County Championship. They were ahead of Lancashire, Surrey, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire, all done with an attack in which their two most experienced bowlers never played. Had the weather stayed out of the game at Durham, they may have done better still.

Even more impressive is that the side is some way from its peak. An attack largely made up of youngsters making their formative steps in the county game was able to somehow bowl sides out. A batting line up in which no one really excelled was able to cobble together the runs with contributions down the order. In this regard, it matched the best county sides of the past, where they always managed to get the runs together for the bowlers to work with.

In a side packed with all round talent, two stood out. Luis Reece averaged 46 with the bat and took thirteen wickets at 26, often opening the batting and bowling. Such herculean efforts confirm his value to the side, as well as his unique standing in the game, as no one does that, or to my knowledge ever has over a sustained period. He bowled more overs than anyone and was second top scorer, as well as remaining a man who appears to enjoy every single minute he is on the field. We are lucky to have him, but in Derbyshire he has found his home.

Matt Critchley also blossomed, with seventeen wickets at 26 and a batting average of 39. In both departments he improved his game and if such progress continues he will play international cricket. His batting was straighter and he looked a fine player, even if he was unduly creative in his dismissals. His bowling was more accurate and the variations in flight and spin caused problems for more than a few. He is one to watch and the new contract signed pre-season means Derbyshire supporters can enjoy that for the immediate future.

The rest of the top four each played one good innings without discovering their sustained best form. They will all come again and likely threaten the thousand run mark in a normal summer. Leus du Plooy played an innings of genius at Trent Bridge to keep his side in the game, before second innings heroics down the order saw an extraordinary win. Billy Godleman sometimes looked to impose himself too quickly, while Wayne Madsen looked more vulnerable to the moving ball than in the past. Both will come again, though there may be merit in Wayne moving down one in the order, better to take toll of the bowlers with the shine gone from the ball. 

Fynn Hudson-Prentice was rarely fully fit and his bowling was missed. His batting won the game at Nottingham and his value to the side for the future is clear. Anuj Dal chipped in with bat and ball, as did Mattie McKiernan and the challenge to each is to confirm their undoubted ability and cement a place in a first choice eleven. As the two best fielders in a decent fielding side they give themselves a good chance, but competition for places, even in a small squad that favours rotation of players, is hotting up. Alex Hughes is another who found himself on the periphery and will be looking for a better summer in 2021.

Harvey Hosein kept better than I have seen him before and did a good job, both standing back and up to the stumps. He batted well in the first innings at Liverpool and remains an organised player , even if not one who can lead a counter-attacking rearguard action. He will remain the first choice for now, though new arrival Brooke Guest will hopefully push him to show his best form through a long, normal season.

As for the bowlers, Sam Conners showed good progress and produced some excellent spells, even if his line needs a little work at times. That issue is there for others too, with Michael Cohen showing rare pace but an inability to sustain the lines to cause a constant threat. His potential is clear, however and another winter under Steve Kirby could see the emergence of a serious bowler. Both showed they could handle a bat, too, which was heartening to see.

Dustin Melton was much improved and bowled very well at Leicester and Liverpool, though a reversion to previous erratic lines in the second innings of that final game was frustrating. He may return, depending on the final decision on Kolpak deals, as my understanding is that he becomes qualified by residence next summer. 

The best of the young seamers, for me, was Ben Aitchison. Before an ankle injury curtailed his summer, he bowled accurately and intelligently throughout. After looking to bowl too quickly on his first appearance at Trent Bridge, he got into a lovely rhythm with his well grooved action and troubled good batsmen on a regular basis. His final figures don't fully reflect his contribution and I have no doubt that his season trial will be extended to a longer deal in the coming weeks.

Which leaves another on a short-term deal, Tom Wood. His only opportunity was in the one innings at Headingley, when he let no one down, even if his dismissal was unusual. I had hoped that his contract might afford greater opportunity and if Madsen were to drop down to four he would be an obvious option at three for another year.

I'm not sure how much more we know about him though. Hopefully he gets a chance in the remaining T20 matches to show what he can do, because there is a good batsman in there.

In summary? T20 finalists in 2019, fifth in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. With shrewd winter recruitment, promotion from division two next summer is a distinct possibility. The all round strength of the side means we bat long and can use seven or eight bowlers if required. That will be appreciated by Billy Godleman, who again led a contented squad well and will look forward to further success and progress in 2021.

'Little' Derbyshire? Not any more. Go down to Trent Bridge and they will put you straight on that..

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 4

Lancashire 219 and 356-6

Derbyshire 195 and 202 (Reece 69, McKiernan 52)

Lancashire won by 178 runs

The last day of the four-day county cricket season was a disappointing one from a Derbyshire perspective.

While there were suggestions on social media that we 'should go for these', the likelihood of repeating the heroics of Nottinghamshire on a vastly different wicket were as slim as my chances of becoming Miss World. 

I didn't understand why Lancashire felt the need to bat on this morning. I felt they had enough anyway and it seemed unnecessarily cautious. Their doing so set a notional 380 target but left only a draw to play for, yet the Derbyshire reply was a disappointment. 

Luis Reece batted well, as did Leus Du Plooy for a while, but the rest put up minimal resistance. After the cricket they have played this summer it was all rather underwhelming. There was a doughty ninth wicket stand between McKiernan and Conners, not for the first time in the match, but there was too long left in the game. 

There's not much more to say, really. Five more T20 matches, where there is only pride to play for, then that is it for another year. Time to take stock, improve the squad as finance allows and hope for a start in April of 2021. That seems so far away right now. 

In closing, I will say one thing about Mattie McKiernan. He perhaps isn't the most gifted player in the side, but he makes the most of what he has and gives his all, whatever he does. In both innings he was prepared to battle, but the question is whether his bowling is trusted enough for him at this level?

He hasn't had a long bowl all summer and the impression one gets, rightly or wrongly, is that he isn't trusted to get people out, or keep things quiet. If that is the case, the next question is if his batting is good enough for him to play as that alone, with his leg spin only an occasional option? 

With his contract up at the end of the summer, only Dave Houghton knows the answer to that one. Yet on the evidence of this game, and other cameos in the summer, he would be very unlucky to be released.

As is ever the case in professional sport, if there is someone deemed better available, then the club will go down that route. 

But Mattie has let no one down. Least of all himself. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 3

Lancashire 219 and 312-6 (Davies 86, Jennings 81, Balderson 56*  Critchley 4-126

Derbyshire 195 (Hosein 84, McKiernan 31, Lamb 4-60)

Lancashire lead by 336 runs

Don't weep for Derbyshire today. Don't be angry either.

They fought well to get within the five runs required for the crucial batting point, that from a nadir of 61-7 yesterday.

Hosein, McKiernan, Conners and Melton (career average before this 0.3) did their best, but ultimately fell short. Attach no blame to them, however, because on the first two days, as a team, we neither caught nor batted well enough.

It is hard to be overly critical. In the past two years we have reached T20 Finals Day and vied for a four-day final to almost the end. This with an attack of youngsters and a squad that was small to start with and became even more bijou without Ravi Rampaul and Tony Palladino. Fynn Hudson - Prentice has had an injury that has limited his bowling too, while we also lost the promising Ben Aitchison, so the challenges have been obvious. 

The progress from where we were even two years ago is startling and there is more to come from this squad. They will learn from this and will know that even on a tricky wicket they should have made 200, against ostensibly a second team attack.

After lunch Alex Davies and Keaton Jennings led an assault on the bowlers as attention turned to what we might chase second time around. It wasn't a great session for us, but a long spell from the admirable Critchley saw him with another four wickets, two for Luis Reece lending support, as we dragged Lancashire back a little in the final session. 

It will speak volumes for their mentality if they drag themselves up from the lunchtime disappointment today to force a win. Whatever the result, we can surely all see progress and with solid winter recruitment we should make a push for four-day promotion next year. Always assuming there are two divisions, of course - we may end up in a top seeded group based on this year's performances.

That's all for next year. Here's hoping we can make a better fist of a tricky run chase tomorrow.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 2

Lancashire 219

Derbyshire 120-7 (Hosein 44* McKiernan 19*)

Derbyshire trail by 99 runs

After writing yesterday that the Josh Bohannon century may be match-defining, I am afraid that our first innings today confirmed my psychic ability.

We quickly polished off the home side's first innings, but then a combination of injudicious strokes, good bowling and frankly poor umpiring disposed of our batting.

It isn't a good wicket and the toss will likely prove key to the result, but we didn't help ourselves early on by 'pushing' at the moving ball, or playing across the line. Du Plooy is currently doing this early in his innings, going for square leg when previously it was mid on. On this wicket a ball keeping low ensured he didn't last long, and none of the top order batted time, but Matt Critchley got a shocker from umpire Graham Lloyd.

He presumably lost the ball but expected a beamer, ducked and was hit on the full, well outside off stump. It may also have been too high as it dipped, but the decision, one of village standard, seemed to have derailed a battling attempt at recovery, as we slipped to 61-7. Given this was effectively Lancashire's second team attack, we have to be disappointed at that. 

A crucial and gutsy partnership between Harvey Hosein and Mattie McKiernan then almost doubled the score by the close. Both showed admirable technique and fighting spirit. IF we could somehow get to 200, a batting point and go on to win the match we COULD still qualify for the final, but with the games elsewhere going the way of Essex and Somerset, that is a serious set of circumstances from where we are right now.

Even my perennial positivity struggles to see another 80 runs in the rest of our batting. If we don't make it, my understanding is that Essex will qualify, having had more wins and the rest of this game is largely academic, bar for pride.

If we do...well, there's one heck of a final day in store.

Harvey, Mattie, Sam and Dustin...you know what you have to do...

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 1

Lancashire 206-8 (Bohannon 94, Melton 3-46, Conners 2-25 Reece 2-49)

v Derbyshire

Derbyshire did well at Liverpool today, restricting Lancashire to a total of 206-8 by the close. Indeed, their three big batting 'guns' of Jennings, Davies and Vilas made but five runs between them.

Yet Josh Bohannon rode his luck to make a dogged 94, taking them to a higher total than may have otherwise been possible, one that may be match-defining. He was dropped a time or two, one to Madsen at slip from the bowling of Melton fairly routine, but his side would have been in real trouble without his grafting. Let's hope that our batsmen can replicate that grit, on a slow wicket where stroke play is not easy. Staying in gradually got a little easier with the older ball, but it was cricket for the purists after tea. 

At one point after the interval, just nine runs came from ten overs, as Dal and Reece bowled accurately. Had there been a crowd, I suspect a few naps may have been taken in the evening sunshine, or books proved a more attractive alternative. 

While he bowled very well and showed astonishing stamina, I thought we overbowled Luis Reece today and I was surprised that Mattie McKiernan wasn't asked to bowl at all. Having earned a place in the eleven, he put down two difficult chances at slip and the selection seems odd for such a peripheral contribution. Given the uncertainty caused by Matt Critchley, I would have thought him worth an over or two, at least. Perhaps he is there for the second innings... 

Critchley bowled well, without luck, but Melton was again excellent. I suspect he is the most improved player on the staff, going from the fast but erratic bowler who faced the Australians last year, to one who bristles with aggression and commitment but now has much better control. 

We need to finish things off tomorrow then aim for a good first innings. We certainly won't want to chase big on the final day.

Whatever happens, we control our own destiny. 

Could we ask for more? 

Lancashire v Derbyshire Bob Willis Trophy preview

Lancashire may have three debutants in the four - day game against Derbyshire that starts at Liverpool tomorrow.

Steven Croft is injured and Tom Bailey is rested from the following 14-man squad:

Dane Vilas (c), George Balderson, Josh Bohannon, George Burrows, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Liam Hurt, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Jack Morley, George Lavelle, Matt Parkinson, Owais Shah

As for Derbyshire, we travel with thirteen. My guess, based on the wicket for the T20 the other night, is that Mattie McKiernan will play. I am also assuming that Fynn Hudson-Prentice will, since he is in the squad, so I assume two of the seamers will miss out.

I would include Michael Cohen, for variation, but the thirteen is:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, Du Plooy, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Dal, McKiernan, Cohen, Conners, Melton, Barnes.

I would leave Barnes and either Conners or Melton out of the final eleven. We need to secure maximum bonus points and ideally win the game to get to the final, so on what may be a tricky pitch, depth of batting and variety of bowling may be crucial.

Our four-day and one-day form has been diametrically different this year. If we can quickly dispose of Jennings, Vilas and Davies we have a good chance.

Will the wicket turn as the game goes on? Probably, so whoever wins the toss will want to bat big and then bowl the other team out twice.

Billy's not had much luck with the toss of late, so here's hoping he calls correctly tomorrow.

Good luck, lads. Do us proud. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire T20

Derbyshire 98-7 (Hughes 32, McKiernan 24*)

Lancashire 102-2

Lancashire won by eight wickets. 

While I think it was a good toss to win and the wicket wasn't especially easy to bat on, Derbyshire were poor at Aigburth this afternoon.

The skipper gave it away with an ungainly heave, Luis Reece ran himself out, Wayne Madsen tickled one down the leg side and Leus Du Plooy popped one up in the air with unseemly haste. Maybe Sunday's big game was on their minds, but our much vaunted top four had been blown away, well inside the Powerplay.

Alex Hughes batted well for a while and there were late runs from Mattie McKiernan, but 98-7 reflects a poor collective batting effort. 

It is always easier on an uncertain wicket to bat second and know what you are chasing. While the home side had to take their time and didn't win until the 18th over, the game was gone at the halfway stage - for that matter at the end of that first Powerplay. 

McKiernan followed his handy innings with a tidy spell of four overs for just thirteen. As things stand, I would be surprised if he wasn't in the side on Sunday. 

The only consolation is that the wicket does not look as if it will be a run feast for that game and a positive result is likely.

We will need to up our game considerably to be on the right side of it, however. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire T20 preview

As someone once said, it is like deja vu all over again tomorrow, as Derbyshire play Lancashire at Aigburth, Liverpool. Always assuming that pretty ground has recovered from its soaking yesterday, of course.

The teams are likely to be similar as in front of the Sky cameras, though Tom Wood is a possible swap for Wayne Madsen. Although Wayne is in the squad, the greater need may be for his involvement in Sunday's four-day decider.

Having had two abandoned and two losses so far, the chances of qualification are slim, but we all know the mitigating circumstances that have made it challenging this year. We will aim to win all those remaining and see what happens. 

Lancashire may welcome back Luke Wood, but Liam Livingstone and Saqib Mahmood are still on England squad duty.

There was little between these sides on Monday, but a change of luck for Derbyshire could easily see tomorrow's result go the other way. The fielding was excellent, the bowling improved and the the mood is obviously good. 

Fingers crossed we get out there, this time. 

Durham v Derbyshire T20

And it rained. The end.

Frustrating that two games we would have had high hopes of winning (Leicestershire the other) have come to naught, but there is little we can do.

We go again, and I know the level of performance will be there again. 

It's the Derbyshire way. 

Durham v Derbyshire preview

It is perhaps typical of Derbyshire's luck of late that they play in theory the weakest team in the group tonight, just as they have been strengthened by the addition of former South African international Farhaan Behardien.

The North East Side has looked poor in previous matches, but will be hoping that the veteran's arrival might kick start their competition.

Derbyshire take a full squad to Chester le Street and will doubtless ring the changes in the attack once more. Unless a miracle has occurred, I would be surprised to see Wayne Madsen tonight, so Tom Wood is the obvious replacement.

The home squad:

Nathan Rimmington (Capt), David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Ben Raine, Scott Steel, Farhaan Behardien,Alex Lees, Sean Dickson, Paul Coughlin, Liam Trevaskis, Stuart Poynter, Ned Eckersley, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse.

It won't be easy and a home attack featuring Ben Raine and Mark Wood will be stronger than of late, but there is enough talent in the Derbyshire squad to come out on top. The key will again be our young attack keeping the opposition within range, but similar purpose in the field to the Lancashire game will serve us well. 

I will be back later with my thoughts. 

Horizons need adjusting for T20

Like many of you, after last year's performances in the Vitality Blast I was enthused by prospects for 2020.

We had signed Sean Abbott, a proven bowler in the format, as well as Ben McDermott, a boundary-bashing wicket keeper for Australia in T20. Add them to an already strong squad and optimism was high.

Then came Covid 19. While it ruled out overseas input for many counties, I felt that the two we had engaged covered our greatest need in an otherwise already strong group. Neither has been able to travel and we have had to manage with a small squad.

Small and reducing by the game. Ravi Rampaul has been unable to leave Trinidad and looks to have played his last game for us. Tony Palladino was granted time off for personal issues, though he rarely played T20 anyway. Ben Aitchison went over on his ankle and is out for the season, Fynn Hudson-Prentice has a thigh injury that needs careful management and now Wayne Madsen looks to have done his achilles tendon.

We are getting close to the 'you are fit, you can play' model of team selection. Our first three bowlers last night, Messrs McKiernan, Conners and Barnes, had four previous T20 matches between them at first-class level. The only fully fit players outside the eleven, Guest, Cohen, Wood and Melton, barely make double figures between them.

Of course you can win some matches with inexperience, as we have shown superbly in the Bob Willis Trophy, but sustained levels of performance generally require greater experience. There is no short cut to this, so supporters must expect some difficulties in the remainder of the Blast. 

I may be wrong and would be delighted to be proved so, but Dominic Cork will earn his money this year and I have mentally written it off as one where that crucial experience is gained. 

We can't just take people on loan either, because finances are already tight and we are better to use the time to assess what we already have, in my opinion. 

I watched the articulate Liam Rosenior at the weekend, discussing how being hammered 3-0 at Nottingham Forest last season in the Carabao Cup was a major factor in the development of the group of young talent at Derby County. It allowed them to see the pressures and challenges of playing at this level, even if it hurt at the time. Short term pain, long term gain and if they are good enough they will come through it, perhaps the better, on the other side. 

Wayne Madsen's injury should allow Tom Wood a run in the side, to show if the run machine at all lower levels can translate at county standard. I hope it does, because he looks to have the talent and such matches will allow him to go for his shots without an array of slips awaiting error.

As for the bowlers, there are contracts to be earned and reputations made. I thought Ed Barnes bowled well last night, especially in closing the innings. I am not yet sure if he has that in him on a regular basis and a few games will hopefully clarify that. The same goes for Matty McKiernan, who has bowled steadily in two matches and fielded brilliantly. Is he worth another deal? We might know by the end of the season.

Then there's Michael Cohen. We know already that he has wicket-taking deliveries in his locker, but can he bowl the lines and lengths to keep the score down? The same goes for Sam Conners and both will know that 1-26 in this format is as good as 4-87 in the four-day game.  Games ebb and flow by the ball and you can quickly go from a hero with a first ball wicket, to villain by leaking 16 runs afterwards.

As supporters we must all show the requisite patience. These lads are living out our dreams in front of an audience in the thousands. Very few can deliver under that pressure  and there will be times when it goes horribly wrong. 

But it is not for the want of trying, and sometimes you have to accept that someone else was better than you on the day. 

While some may fall by the wayside, I have a feeling that we may unearth a nugget or two of gold before this weird old summer is out. 

Keep the faith. Last year we made finals day in T20, this year we are a match away from a Lord's final in the four-day game. 

There are plenty who have gone decades between such experiences, not winters.

I'm one of them. 

Derbyshire v Lancashire T20

Lancashire 178-5 (Davies 82)

Derbyshire 174-7 (Madsen 44, Reece 39, Critchley 32)

Lancashire won by 4 runs

It was much better from Derbyshire tonight, but the end result was the same as they slipped to narrow defeat by 4 runs.

Even worse, Wayne Madsen, who looked like he would have won it for us, sustained a nasty looking injury to his achilles tendon which is likely to render him doubtful for the weekend four-day game.

Considering the inexperience of the attack I thought we did OK with the ball. Barnes and Conners pulled it back well at the end when they looked set for 200. The fielding was sharper, with Dal and McKiernan outstanding. The latter also bowled tidily. 

I didn't get the rationale of him going in to pinch hit, however and the experiment didn't last long. Godleman was in uber frenetic mode and Reece batted well for a while, but when Madsen and du Plooy got going, a win seemed on.

Then came the injury as Madsen played his ramp shot. Thereafter he could only stand and hit to limited effect. Leus hit two fine sixes but could have showed greater nous than going for a third in the same over. Matt Critchley took us closer than looked likely, but we always looked just behind the rate. 

At this stage a repeat of last year looks unlikely. I would be surprised if we see Wayne again in the competition, but it at least offers an opportunity to Tom Wood.

We will keep fighting and there will be wins to come, but the inexperienced attack and loss of a major batsman would appear too great a handicap to overcome. 

We'll see. No complaints tonight, with better luck we might have nicked that one. 

Yorkshire v Derbyshire T20

Yorkshire 220-5 (Root 64, Lyth 61, Fraine 44* McKiernan 2-22)

Derbyshire 121-9 (Critchley 26)

Yorkshire won by 99 runs

After short consideration, I think that was the worst performance in this competition by Derbyshire in a couple of seasons.

We badly lacked the control of Rampaul, at the top and tail of the innings, but the rest did themselves no favours with bowling of erratic length and line. I wouldn't have gone for Conners and Cohen in this format, and their lack of overs confirmed the skipper might not have done either.

The only bowler who emerged with credit was Mattie McKiernan, who strangely didn't finish his allocation. The rest were summarily despatched by Lyth, Root and Fraine, who batted well but were given way too many full tosses and half volleys on which to gorge themselves. Nor was the fielding especially sharp either, with a few mishandlings and some wild throwing.

It was a good toss to win, to be fair, as it is usually better to bat first at Headingley in such matches. From Lyth's opening over of our reply, the writing appeared to be on the wall and neither Madsen or Godleman looked at ease. 

Once they and du Plooy had quickly departed, two to decent catches, it became a case of damage limitation and protecting, to some extent the net run rate. Their fielding looked far sharper than ours, Godleman's blinding catch at cover apart, but it is much easier to field when your bowlers are in the right areas, of course. 

This was our Leicestershire at the County Ground of two summers ago. A major sea change needs to take place for our T20 prospects to come close to those in the four-day game, or for us to come close to the knock out stage this year. It was diametrically opposed to our four day performances and while one eye will, naturally be on next weekend's game at Liverpool, we are much better than this. 

It was poor and I expect to see a reaction on the same ground in front of Sky cameras tomorrow. I doubt Dominic Cork will accept less.

Finally, a word about the stream. I know it was free, but it started late and later went out of focus and required refreshing several times. There is potential for such streams to raise income for counties in the long term, but it needs to be better than this one was. 

Yorkshire v Derbyshire preview

Derbyshire add Harvey Hosein and Dustin Melton to the fourteen that were due to play against Leicestershire for tomorrow's trip to Headingley.

Again, I won't try to pick a team, because without seeing the track it is pointless. 

Yorkshire welcome back England skipper Joe Root, but are without Bairstow, Rashid and Willey, as well as Gary Ballance. 

Their squad:

Lyth, Kohler-Cadmore, Brook, Coad, Fisher, Fraine, Root, Hill, Lyth, Pillans, Poysden, Revis, Shutt, Tattersall, Thompson.

There is more than enough in the Derbyshire squad to continue our recent domination over the White Rose in this format. 

While the bowling is largely inexperienced, the batting has shown itself capable of chasing down big totals and we have a good chance of opening our account in this one. 

We'll see tomorrow, but between times I welcome your thoughts! 

Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20

No result

The forecast rain ensured that there was no play in this game, as it did around much of the country.

We go again on Sunday, against Yorkshire at Headingley.

But in closing, a word of congratulations to the club. The Incora County Ground has become an effective and doubtless lucrative 'bubble' this summer for various touring sides, as well as England Ladies.

The Australians are there now, following on from Pakistan and the West Indies, as well as England Ladies. 

If you book into the Travelodge at the ground in future, you could be sleeping in a room once used by a cricketing legend.. 

Meanwhile the club is bringing in much needed money and, with the function spaces set to reopen, better times seem to be around the corner. 

It is good to see. 

Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20 preview

 I have no idea which of the fourteen players named will take the field for Derbyshire tomorrow, against Leicestershire, but I do know they will be ready to give their all.

With the exception of Harvey Hosein, who misses out as Brooke Guest is preferred this time, all the fit players on the staff are included. 

As listed by the club, the squad is:

Godleman, Reece, Wood, Madsen, Du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hudson-Prentice, McKiernan, Dal, Guest, Cohen, Barnes, Conners.

As I wrote yesterday, you could play the first eleven named, bat all the way down and still have eight bowlers, such are our all-rounders. However, as someone else said (I think notoveryet) I would like to see a death bowler in there and the angle and pace of Cohen could get him the nod.

We will miss Ravi Rampaul, but a lot of counties are missing key personnel, including our opponents, who are without Mark Cosgrove. My guess is that Hudson-Prentice may be the other death bowler, allowing Reece, Hughes and Critchley to hopefully tie down the middle overs, as they did so well last year. Don't discount a key role for Mattie McKiernan in the competition either, as his leg spin variations and fine fielding could make him a key player.

Leicestershire have named a thirteen-man squad with three former Derbyshire players in it, namely:

Ackermann, Davis, Delany, Dearden, Griffiths, Hill, Klein, Lilley, Mike, Parkinson, Rhodes, Swindells. Taylor.

Colin Ackermann is the danger man and has a fine record in the competition. Although they have some good players, my money is on a Derbyshire win, to start the competition in style.

What about you?

Durham v Derbyshire day 4

 As I write this blog, with the rain battering off the patio doors and the wind blowing the plants to and fro with gusto, there appears little likelihood of further play at Chester-le-Street, with the scene replicated there in tweets from the ground.

It is a pity, because that extra batting bonus point that would otherwise have been a formality may prove crucial by the end of the final round of matches. The pitch was way too benign for a positive result to have been forced and credit must go to the Derbyshire bowlers for managing to get through their opponents on such a track. 

Indeed, the ability of a largely inexperienced attack to dismiss the opposition has been a feature of the Bob Willis Trophy campaign. Regardless of what happens elsewhere in the final round of matches, we have done extremely well with novices. Conners, Melton, Cohen and Aitchison have all done well, taking wickets at regular enough intervals for the team to get into the ascendancy, while the batting has looked every bit the force that it appeared pre-season. 

We all knew about the strength of the 'fab four' at the top of the order, of course. Yet, speaking as a non-statistician, I'd be willing to bet my house on our never having two batsmen, normally at seven and eight in the order, who average over a hundred, as Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Anuj Dal currently do. Both have looked very impressive and with Matt Critchley looking a far straighter, more correct and downright impressive batsman than in the past, I struggle to think of a batting order that has had such depth.

I do feel for Alex Hughes and Tom Wood, who have done little wrong, but it is hard to see how either can force a way in right now, with Harvey Hosein or Brooke Guest behind the stumps at six. Alex will doubtless be in the T20 side and few will fancy coming up against a side where there are genuine batsmen down to number nine in the order.

The professional performance at Durham has been overshadowed by the injury to Ben Aitchison yesterday, who injured ankle ligaments in a training drill. He seems unlikely to play again this season, but has surely done enough to earn a contract for at least two years. His well-grooved action and impressive accuracy would have made him a shoo-in for the Vitality Blast, but that will need to wait.

Our only problem seems to be running out of players. Ravi Rampaul may now not be able to get over from Trinidad and Michael Cohen's wavering lines don't suggest him as an obvious pick for the short form at present. Perhaps Tony Palladino could be our 'wild card' after several years of hardly playing the format? Or do we utilise the all-rounders and pack the side with batsmen?

With our next fixture the T20 against Leicestershire on Thursday, I'll hazard a guess at this team from the resources available:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Critchley, Wood, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Dal, Hosein, McKiernan

You could omit Wood and McKiernan for two seamers, but the eleven above has seven bowling options  anyway..

Thoughts?

Postscript: a player who has really impressed me in this shortened season has been Matt Critchley. He signed a two-year deal before the action started and looks a serious all-round talent now.

He has always looked a cricketer, but his batting looks much more straight, his defence better organised than in previous years. He gave his wicket away twice, but still averages over fifty, Meanwhile his bowling has developed a lovely loop and greater accuracy, twelve wickets at 24 runs each telling no lie as to his ability.

He has that number five spot nailed, by the look of it. We are very lucky to have such depth in all round talent in the squad, but credit to Dave Houghton and the coaching staff for identifying and improving them so well, 

As well as providing an environment in which they can thrive.

Durham v Derbyshire day 3

Durham 337-9 declared

Derbyshire 355-4 (Reece 122, Madsen 52, Godleman 51, Critchley 46* du Plooy 40, Hudson-Prentice 26*)

Derbyshire lead by 18 runs

I can only describe today's action at The Riverside as one of the more unusual I have seen over the years.

In the morning and for a good part of the afternoon, Derbyshire accumulated steadily on a slow, flat wicket. Reece and Godleman batted well, before the skipper holed out to cover. 

Enter Madsen and he went on to make a fifty, before being bowled playing perhaps the ugliest shot of his long career. The ball didn't get up and it ended half sweep, half pull, some way removed from his usual aesthetic self. 

Luis Reece played some fine shots in his first century of the summer, including a straight six and a few from his one-day repertoire. 

The wicket was flat yet not quick enough for all out assault. With tomorrow's forecast largely unpleasant, the task was to get as many batting points as possible, as a positive result would need nine days on such a wicket. 

Yet Durham put on Stuart Poynter for his first ever bowl of flighted filth at one end with plenty out on the boundary, as if trying to buy a wicket. Which seemed fine, but bowled Paul Coughlin at the other. It was all rather odd. 

When normal service resumed, Reece accelerated with the century achieved, before perishing in the deep. Like his captain, the shot was played with only one hand on the bat, adding to the surreal feeling of it all. 

Du Plooy and Critchley then moved into one-day mode, before the former was bowled by a slow yorker in the gathering gloom. 

It was left to the stylish Critchley and the powerful Hudson-Prentice to get us past 350 and four batting points, as a gloomy evening ended in bright sunshine. 

It was a professional batting performance, the innings well-paced. It also keeps us top of the group, for now. 

And very much in the mix for the final.