As days go, that must have been close to a 'Carlsberg' one. Cricket against Yorkshire at Chesterfield and beating them with over six overs in hand having chased 235, the pro scoring a hundred and contributions down the order. Oh, and our young spinner bowls a canny spell, removing their overseas player in the process and we did all that while resting three of our main bowlers.Yup, that was a goodie. Having grown up on Derbyshire usually failing to chase 160 against Yorkshire in one day games, I would have loved to have seen that one, the latest in a long line of impressive displays this season. It just makes you wonder what could have been had we not played poorly twice against the Netherlands. One point from two games against them and the losses against Worcestershire shows what we need to address - keeping that level of intensity going against everyone.
There was no Dan Redfern today - hopefully being kept back for Wednesday - and while Hughes and Madsen scored a few, neither got quite the score they might have wished for. Nor did Greg Smith, although his bowling did a good job today, alongside Knight, while it was good to see Garry Park turning his arm over again after a shoulder injury for much of the campaign. Good discipline from Derbyshire too, with only ten extras, something that will please Karl Krikken and also Tom Poynton, who apparently kept well.
Of course, I have to close with mention of Martin Guptill, who seems to have gone from winter to high summer in form. I've been critical of Guptill's Championship form and while I accept he's had his share of awkward deliveries that have seen him go early, he will have been disappointed with his four-day campaign as an established Test player.
Now, however, he seems to have sussed the tracks. Having averaged around 40 in the T20 (no mean achievement) he now averages 93 in the CB40 with two centuries and a fifty in four knocks. Such is the way he goes for his shots that a lengthy Guptill knock should usually result in a win if others bat around him. Ross Whiteley gave the final impetus today with five fours and a six in his unbeaten 31 on a ground he knows well and has enjoyed considerable success. In full flight he is a player of obvious class and for me his on drive, the pose held as the ball speeds to the boundary, is his trademark shot. Not an easy one to play well either, but Guptill does it beautifully.
As I wrote earlier in the week, Martin Guptill for the first half of next season and Usman Khawaja for the second half could yet be the answer to Derbyshire's overseas needs for 2012. A few more innings like today and I might not be alone in that assertion either.
It as a good win today. Guptill batted faultlessly,it was a pleasure to watch and he really did look a class act.
ReplyDeleteHughes was going well until he needlessly got himself out. A poor choice of shot once again,when a sizeable score was there for the taking. Madsen got a few but looks far from convincing. and also got out to a poor shot. Smith batted like a tail ender,which is what he should be,though in fairness he bowled a good spell. Whiteley steadied the ship and played some nice shots to see us home.
Young Poynton kept quite well though he would be disappointed with two stumpings he muffed. Missing Balance was a particularly bad one and cost us a fair few runs in the process.
Knight bowled well but one thing he must improve on is his fielding. He was woeful today and hasn,t been very good in some other games i,ve seen him play. For a young lad,at times he looks like a geriatric.This area of his game has to improve rapidly. His dropped catch mattered little on this occasion,but it summed up a poor fielding performance.
Im afraid Footitt was awful and took some real punishment. Why Hughes didn,t bowl was a mystery,though Garry Park showed what a useful bowler he can be.
Nevertheless it was a good effort and sent the dee-dahs home with plenty to think about. Well done today and fingers crossed for Wednesday.
peakfan - you would have enjoyed it today - we marmalised the yorkies and as i live in sheffield it will be sweet in work tomorrow! huge credit to Knight, Park, Wes and especially Smith for the bowling - it put the brakes on the Yorkies - they went from 100 after 17 overs to 155 after 32 (a brilliant squeeze) and apart from Gary Ballance hitting 48 with Rashid off 2 overs from Timmy G and one from Footit they would have had much less.
ReplyDeleteBatting was a stroll after Chesney and Gups went off like a house on fire - 59 after 6 overs - never in doubt - Gups didnt offer a chance it was a flawless innings of supreme quality and Rashid and England hopeful a while back smashed out of the attack as was Wainwright.
Great day, great crowd and roll on Northants (have to see if i can sneak a work from home day at queens park) - just shows what we can achieve - oh and guess what we did it without captain calamity as Tom kept ok - missed a stumping but did ok.
Creweblade
Excellent result. Well done Guppy! Looking in awesome form at the moment. Pleased for Ross getting some runs too. Hoping to get along to Chesterfield on Thursday too.
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