Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 1

Fantastic effort by Derbyshire today to get to 321-8 at the end of the first day. To be honest, when I went out at lunchtime with the score a pitiful 39-5, I doubted we would make 150. As 'Anon' says below the previous post, never presume anything with Derbyshire, certainly not this side. Two games running now we have returned 'from the dead' and the last couple of sessions must have been disheartening for the home side, after effectively having us on the ropes.

There was early movement of course and they would have fancied their chances of quick wickets as we would had Luke Sutton won the toss, but the top order were mown down in the first ninety minutes. In the course of that time Wayne Madsen registered his third duck in four championship innings, a rare bad trot for the opener.

The recovery was started by Luke Sutton and Ross Whiteley (pictured), but when the skipper departed it was completed by Whiteley and Jon Clare, another remarkable performance by two young players. Clare eventually departed for 82, but Whiteley went on to a sparkling maiden century with sixteen fours and a six before being lbw to Vaas. There was still time before the close for Tim Groenewald and Tony Palladino to add 41 runs and take us to a healthy-looking total at the end, way in excess of what looked likely earlier in the day.

The fight back again illustrated the spirit in this side. Some may point to another top order failure, but there were difficult early conditions to contend with. I prefer to focus on the positives, that once again a team ethic has seen us end the day in a healthy position. I don't expect the Northamptonshire batting to enjoy tomorrow against a predominantly seam Derbyshire attack.

In closing I'm pleased to say that my predictive powers are still intact. Back in September 2009, in an article 'Go Young Guns' I wrote:

"Ross Whiteley got little opportunity last night but I think he's a lad who has much to offer. Sometimes his radar goes a little but his left arm seam/swing can trouble batsmen when he is in the groove. He is also a very clean hitting batsman and I could see him developing into a good all rounder with greater opportunities. With Jon Clare to come again after the travails of the season, we have less to worry about than many counties for next season and the tighter visa regulations."


I am thrilled for both young men, one having put serious injury behind him to rekindle his original potential, while the other has shown everyone how good he can be, with the first of what I am sure will be many centuries for the county.

Well done lads!


 

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