Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 2

Glamorgan 377 (Palladino 5-83)

Derbyshire 98-2 (Slater 41 not, Madsen 23 not)

Derbyshire trail by 279 runs.

Derbyshire didn't get long in the middle today, after fighting back well with the ball to get Glamorgan out for 377. For most of the day yesterday, 450 looked likely, but the admirable Tony Palladino added another five-wicket haul to his collection for the club and only some late, lusty blows from van der Gugten took the visitors past 350.

Our reply was a little stop start affair and we lost Chesney to a flat-footed shot that has been too common in previous years. When Hamish Rutherford perished to third man, one of the more unusual ways to get out in a four-day game, there could have been alarm bells ringing, but Ben Slater batted sensibly and with considerable skill, while Wayne Madsen simply did what he has been doing all season so far. If one accepts his retirement on 100 against Durham MCCU as a not out, Waynce currently sits with a season average of 300. Bradmanesque? Madsenesque, perhaps. In this form there are few better players in the country and aspirations of England may not be unrealistic.

Hopefully there will be better luck tomorrow, but the forecast isn't great and this game looks even more the nailed-on draw that it appeared at lunchtime yesterday. I doubt we will see a challenging declaration on the last day at this stage of the summer, but I will be there to see how it goes regardless.

One final word - Mark asked my thoughts on Martin Guptill going to Lancashire. I have no issue with it. Gup is a wonderful player and will doubtless do well for them, but from a balance perspective our need for this year was more a batsman who bowls or all-rounder.  The batting looks strong and long and be in no doubt that Jimmy Neesham is a very good cricketer. Assuming that he is over his back injury, he could give us the 'nous' to get across the finishing line in the T20.

I'm sure Martin Guptill will be warmly welcomed back at Derby in any capacity, for or against us.