Once again Derbyshire can be pretty pleased with their efforts at the end of the second day, having reduced the home side to 220-6 in reply to our 364.
I loved the reference by Steffan Jones to the Tifflex balls as being like 'bowling with a rabbit's head' after thirty overs, so the attack stuck well to their guns. While the dangerous James Middlebrook is due in next, at this stage we can perhaps look forward to a first innings lead.
Top marks go to Tony Palladino for his career best 60, while the attack largely stuck well to their task. Deserved credit goes to Mark Turner, with 2-32 in 14 overs, and the returning Tim Groenewald, similarly economical for his brace.
Breaking the potentially dangerous O'Brien/Vaas pairing early tomorrow will be key to success in this game, but Derbyshire have again stuck to their game plan and are proving difficult and worthy opposition.
Can't ask for more than that, can you?
Having intermittently observed most of the last three weeks from the wilds of the Western Isles, I am naturally best equipped to comment on Derbyshire's performances in that time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in the least surprised at the predictable fading of our t20 challenges - far from saying I told you so, it was actually better than I'd expected from a team with such obvious bowling failings for the format.
I'm less than blown away by our interest in Collingwood - at his best dull (apart from his fielding), a long way off that at the moment and unlikely to improve, and a poor captain who may look good only in comparison to Broad.
But I'm delighted by the way our 4 day performance has maintained the upward trajectory since early May. The young players whose failure to progress for several years I've lamented so often have started to blossom (surely no coincidence), and the whole unit is achieving a consistency even if some of its component parts aren't. We're in a much better place if five or six different individuals contribute game by game than if the same three do it all in every game. Having seen Mark Turner go for two an over today, I'm even prepared to accept that he's finding a groove, although I still don't think I've seen a wilder bowling action since the golden days of Bill Richardson.
I honestly thought that what I saw of Ross Whiteley batting in the limited LVCC highlights was some of the best batting I've seen from a Derbyshire batsman in years - control, poise and timing from someone I started thinking was a wildly expensive bowler, came to recognise might be a useful limited overs clubber who might get through a few overs on a good day, to a genuinely high-class batsman. If you think this is hyperbole, watch his calm, measured push drives in the 90's.
In this context, some of the comments about leaving out Smith and Groenewald because they haven't committed to us for next year is nonsense. The young players have carried us in the last couple of games, but can't do so for the rest of the season. We are a poor county, who can't afford to leave expensive resources sitting on the bench for the spite of it. And we have a genuine chance of promotion now (okay, we probably know how that story ends but still...) that players of their experience and ability will contribute to.
I'm probably getting carried away, but I have a real and genuine optimism that I haven't felt in years.
This made me laugh as much as anything I've read recently. In case anyone here doesn't follow Falcon's Forum, it's worth repeating it:
ReplyDelete"Mark Turner bowled fast and with lots of energy.For two overs Mal Loye didnt know his A*** from his elbow until Mark hit him on his arm."
Like all good comedy it's all in the timing. Well done.
Great comments notoveryet! I totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back notoveryet. Quite a good day for us overall. We need to finish them off quickly and hopefully establish a lead of around 80 to 100 runs. Second innings we need to step on the gas a bit harder and give ourselves time to bowl them out. We need to win this match.
ReplyDeleteCan,t believe Turner,s figures. He must have bowled during the lunch interval. Seriously though,im pleased for him,particularly as i selected him in my starting eleven. Lets hope it,s the start of something more productive for him. Im a bit surprised Hughes didn,t get a bowl at some stage. Thought he might have been worth a few overs during the afternoon. Anyway,fingers crossed for today.