Fantastic effort

Irrespective of what happens between now and close of play, there's surely no one will doubt that this was an outstanding effort by Derbyshire today.

Credit to Tom Lungley and Tim Groenewald for keeping things ticking over at one end, but what a fantastic effort from Wavell Hinds today! The West Indian reined in his natural instincts to score an unbeaten 119 in almost five hours of batting on a tricky pitch that offered considerable help to the three Glamorgan spinners.

There were a few doubters over Wavell last season and I'd include myself in that number. He played a few cameos, notably in the 20/20, and took more wickets than we perhaps expected, but he didn't produce anything really special.

This season started in slow fashion and after his first few innings he looked like a man who had forgotten how to bat. In recent weeks, since his century against Leeds/Bradford UCCE, Hinds has looked an increasingly class act and every inch the international batsman that he is.

He can still frustrate, but that's human frailties for you. A few silly dismissals (walking down the track) and a careless shot or two can leave hearts in mouths, but Hinds now seems to be coming to terms with the County game. At his best he has a full range of shots and although his penchant when lofting is the arc between mid wicket and long on, he can destroy sides when his eye is in.

Now he has shown he can grit it out. When the going got tough, Wave got going. Can't ask for more than that.

52-2 in 16 chasing 285 as I close. The thinking money is on a draw, but these two (Powell and Cosgrove) are fine players and Dalrymple is in next...