At the end of day two, Derbyshire have an uphill task to salvage something from this game, with Middlesex 170 runs ahead and two days left to play.
At 126-5 there was every chance of parity between the sides on first innings, but Neil Dexter, who has often been a thorn in our side, in company with Gareth Berg took the game away from us. We could still get out of this one, but will need to bat much better in the second innings on a track that would appear to have eased - at least when we're bowling on it…
We really missed Robin Peterson today. The game is still winnable, but we somehow need to get around 200 runs ahead and hope that either the wicket deteriorates or that our hosts bat badly in the second innings. I know I am really clutching at straws with that one, but 400 in the next innings is a must.
What looks increasingly likely is that the second promotion slot this season, at least, is going to be wide open. Leicestershire have gone right off the boil while both Gloucestershire and Glamorgan have found form after a wretched start, as of course have Middlesex.
Sussex look to hold the aces after an explosive start, but most of the other sides are jockeying for position like athletes at the start of the last lap of a 1500m race. There is long while to go in this season and a lot of cricket to be played, but we haven't done well here over the first two days. We will need to up our game considerably over the next two to get out of this game with anything other than wounded pride and a hiding.
At the start of the season I wrote that we needed to concentrate on winning sessions and results would come. So far, by and large, we have done pretty well, but we have lost five out of six sessions in this one and that is simply not good enough.
To be fair, a couple of players got poor lbw shouts given against them yesterday, but from this distance I can't work out whether we got the toss wrong, batted poorly or bowled poorly. We have not suddenly become a poor side, but we've had a bad 'un here so far.
The seamers looked to have decent figures - 7 for 160 for Lungley, Groenwald and Footitt while Smith and Hughes had the horrific figures of 0-150 off 25 overs. Think that suggests we missed Peterson massively
ReplyDeleteClearly, Peterson and a fit Wagg would have significantly helped the cause.
ReplyDeleteOn the face of it, we came up short with our own batting and lacked the control necessary when Buck introduced the spinners. Hughes is obviously a real tyro at this level with his stronger suit being his batting at present. I am a bit surprised Smith appears to have been collared so comprehensively though.
It is going to be a tough one to retrieve as things stage, assuming the weather holds throughout the next couple of days.
MASTERVILLAIN
peakfan.
ReplyDeleteI think it shows over the last week or so we are a batsmen light especially in the middle-order, hopefully john morris will discover another gem like madson during the season.