Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 4

Last night I hoped for a professional end to this game from Derbyshire and that is exactly what we got. Martin Guptill batted in confident manner, well supported by Wes Durston and Greg Smith, to take us to a thoroughly deserved victory and, more importantly, third place in the table.

With four games to go, promotion is still a distinct possibility, something few would have anticipated pre-season and no one mid season when John Morris and Andrew Brown left. Yet the players have risen to the challenge and, aided by an excellent team spirit, are still in there fighting at the business end of the season.

There has to be credit given to all the players but especially to Karl Krikken and Luke Sutton. Krikk has brought the best out of young players who he developed from an early age and they have thrived on their opportunities, while Sutton rode the storm of comments from some quarters over the Morris affair and has led the side pretty well. While the weight of runs hasn't been that of his youth, he is on 491 for the season in the Championship and averages 28, while his wicket-keeping has been outstanding. I thought he showed himself both a leader and a man in his support of Chris Grant and the players have given him their backing.

Credit also to Martin Guptill, who has had his travails in the Championship but has shown his class when it was most needed and now has an average of 35 - not exceptional, but improving. He has shown commitment to the cause too, like Usman Khawaja before him and been an affable member of the dressing room and brilliant fielder. One of the best things I have seen lately was the congratulatory text sent by Khawaja to Ross Whiteley after his maiden century, something that he didn't need to do but showed his interest in the players and the club. In an era of jet set players and revolving door overseas stars, their commitment has been one of the pleasures of the season.

And so to Chesterfield, where Krikken has the chance to firstly cement third place in the CB40 then push for the top in the Championship. Could there be a better start to the cricket week there? For what its worth, I think that Matt Lineker and Dan Redfern should come in for Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes. On the bowling front, we need Clare, Palladino and Groenewald fit for this run in, but Mark Turner is rapidly becoming a man we've lacked in the past, someone with hostility to remove tail enders. I'll accept that sometimes his radar goes, but bowlers with his pace and aggression are not all that common. Devon Malcolm could be wild at times, but when it was right, he could be a handful. Turner is not yet in Devon's class, but is an asset as a fourth seamer and could enjoy the pace and bounce at Chesterfield, as long as he doesn't get carried away.

Finally, I've written plenty about Greg Smith of late but this is where we need him to show his mettle. I'm increasingly of the opinion that all is not yet lost with Smith and that there are perhaps no other takers for his services. While I have been critical of his 'cameos' in the past, Madsen and Hughes would currently be grateful for that and on that basis he should retain his place. With things now tight at the top, there is no better time for him to illustrate his worthiness of a deal, here or elsewhere.

My team for Northamptonshire:

Guptill
Lineker
Durston
Redfern
Smith
Whiteley
Sutton
Clare
Groenewald
Palladino
Turner

For Yorkshire, maybe Footitt to give one of the seamers a breather,while Madsen's one day skills in the middle order may be worthy of perseverance,  but I'll not lose much sleep either way. There may also be a recall from international duty for Tom Knight, a tester on a small ground.

As a postscript, I notice that Mark Turner currently averages 38 with the bat and 30 with the ball. Genuine all-rounders at number eleven eh....?