Derbyshire 248 (Hosein 108, Cork 49)
and 15-1
On the penultimate day of an underwhelming county championship season, Derbyshire delivered one more disappointing batting display that was redeemed only by another wonderful effort from Harvey Hosein.
He not only exceeded his personal best for a second successive game, but went on to register a maiden century, eventually being last man out for an outstanding 108. He was lent good support by Greg Cork, who missed a debut fifty by one run, but apart from that, the Derbyshire innings was a mediocre affair.
When both Tony Palladino and Will Davis went to successive balls, I was worried that Harvey was going to be left high and dry again, especially when he continued to take singles early in the over. Yet Ben Cotton, who was at the crease when Alex Hughes registered his maiden ton in 2015, did the job once more and kept an end going as long as required.
The follow on was enforced and Ben Slater was out before the close.
Tomorrow will be a long and attritional battle to save the game, though the assertion on Cricinfo earlier that 'Derbyshire look likely to go through the season without a win' was somewhat a case of stating the obvious.
Sadly.
So much for my prediction on Tuesday of a game over in two days, and it's just a final example of this year's baffling selection decisions that we went into it with five (six if you include Hughes) pace bowlers on what turned out to be a flat, slow pitch. I wasn't there on Tuesday when Derbyshire apparently bowled quite well after a poor first session. but the bowling on the second day was pretty awful, with even Palladino serving up easy runs. Yesterday’s collapse was all too predictable, but in fairness, most of the wickets fell to some very good bowling rather than batsman error, as Worcs bowlers did what ours didn’t and took advantage of a new ball in the first hours or so when there seemed to be some assistance. Nevertheless, we managed still to bat for three sessions, which is all we need to do today (minus the 5 overs lost to rain) to avoid defeat, as long as the resolve is there to do it, and we survive the first hour without too much damage. It’s scant consolation, but we can take some small comfort from the fact that we might end up with only four defeats, fewer than half of the rest of the division.
ReplyDeleteThe other consolation, of course, was the batting of Hosein, who played a near chanceless innings, and once again showed his massive potential and growing maturity. One of the things that has struck me about him is the air of calm he brings with him. This was particularly noticeable in the second innings against Leicestershire, when Madsen was looking as skittish and fragile as I’ve ever seen him before Hosein came in, and the latter’s willingness to play time and settle in seemed to settle Madsen down. There’s been much discussion about Gary Wilson’s ability to play as a specialist batsman, and I was slightly concerned to come across a Belfast telegraph article online which said that he will be the first choice wicketkeeper in all formats. I haven’t seen anything he or Derbyshire have said directly that indicates this, and I hope it doesn’t mean that there is a clause in his contract that will increase the risk that Hosein looks elsewhere to continue his development. As things stand though, Hosein’s current form would justify his selection as a batsman even if he wasn’t keeping wicket.
I’ll be listening to progress at home today, although I suspect that, like most of us, some of my attention will be diverting to the fantastic conclusion of the championship. What a blow for the big counties if Somerset wins the championship and Notts and Warwickshire or Lancs are relegated.
Thanks notoveryet.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Somerset win it...two Test ground counties in division two is a real eye opener!
It truly is a pathetic carry on at Derbyshire, another shocking defeat looming and only Hosein looks like he can save us. How a team can go the whole season and not win one championship game is truly appalling, and heaven forbid if Sadler gets the gig as head coach. Tie Harvey down to a big new contract, that might be the best we can hope for at this plummeting county.
ReplyDeleteThree if you include Glamorgan. You wouldn't bet on Durham not joining us next year as well. Watching Middlesex this morning, I realised something that hadn't occurred to me before. All of this team are home-grown by them (admittedly with a huge catchment area and a number of cricketing public schools feeding them) and they don't carry out raiding parties on other counties, so you could make a case to support them as well. In other words, anyone but Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteSouthampton is a Test ground too so 2 Test grounds in Div2 guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteSILVERFOXTHERAMSFAN