Yorkshire 349-7 (Handscomb 140, Ballance 63, Mendis 2-59)
Derbyshire 334-8 (Madsen 112, Smit 77 not, Critchley 49)
Yorkshire won by 15 runs
Whatever the shortcomings of this Derbyshire side, the batting isn't an issue. For the third successive innings we went past 300 and today reached an imposing tally, but the task was simply too great.
The in-form Peter Handscomb, an overseas player preferred to a local behind the timbers, which rings a few bells, played a fine innings that looked to have put the game well beyond us. A fine knock by Wayne Madsen kept us in the hunt, while a late and bucolic assault by Matt Critchley made the game closer than earlier looked possible.
Smit kept wicket very tidily, as I expected, effecting a very sharp run out and a stumping that was conducted with the minimum of fuss and maximum efficiency. He then played an excellent innings that thoroughly justified his selection in the role.
The concern lies around the bowling. Viljoen took an early wicket and although he went for seven an over, his final spell suggested that he was regaining his rhythm and the accompanying skills. Shiv Thakor was again steady and Jeevan Mendis was tidy, but the least said about the rest, the better.
The 20 combined overs of Messrs Cotton, Hughes, Reece and Critchley went for 160 runs and until we can find greater control from that portion of the attack, we won't win many matches.
Viljoen will improve, Thakor is very reliable and Mendis steady, without ever suggesting he might rip the heart from a batting line up. Tahir will add more, later in the summer, but we need one of our young seamers to offer more than at present. You can make up ten overs, but twenty is a challenge that few could handle.
Still, even with five stars missing this is strong opposition and Handscomb is proving a very sound signing for the white rose county. They remain a tough side to beat and for me, with Middlesex, are the best team in the country.
Derbyshire? Work to be done before we get across the line in first place, but we haven't had this deep a batting line up in some time.
Another win isn't too far away.
I am agreement with your match assessment except in the case of Alex Hughes. 4 overs for 20 runs in the context of this match was admirable. I believe Alex has bowled steadily in the competition to date and has been underused.
ReplyDeleteOn a separate point the same pitch at Derby was used for both homes games. If we can get away with using it again against the bears this week,both our leggies may have more of a say in the outcome.
NatWest 81
I think lumping Alex Hughes in with the expensive list is a little harsh after his 4 overs went for 20? He had the second best economy of all those on show today!
ReplyDeleteThis was the first game Cotton has struggled early on so he must be given another chance. Critchley is always likely to be expensive but he can pick up wickets. If he takes 4-80 off his 10, unless they all come late, we'll probably bowl teams out. I'm not entirely sure what value Reece adds with the ball above Hughes other than being a left armer for variety. Don't forget we've still got Palladino and Davis injured.
The group is shaping up like it has 4 teams that are considerably better than the other 5. The next 3 games are against other teams in the 5, and I think we'll have to win them all to have any chance of sneaking 3rd to qualify
I posted earlier saying we were out of our depth today, that was when we were floundering five down for 150. A sound effort after that by the middle order but our bowling is quite frankly shocking. We're putting far too much pressure on our batsmen asking them to score 300 every game it's just too much. Could be the same again on Tuesday against Warwickshire, no it will be.
ReplyDeleteYes my comment on the other 20 overs needs explaining.
ReplyDeleteI think Alex Hughes under-utilised in this competition and I hope we remember his value better in the t20.
Hopefully the skipper will as I would still like to see him in the role, unless they go with Wilson or Smit.
He could likely do seven or eight overs but on a day of such carnage, 5 an over is, as you say, miserly stuff.
This years 50 over competition is like no other before. Have a look at the RPOs around the counties. You may think our bowling is at 6s and 7s but that is the norm in 2017.
ReplyDeleteFair point Anon (please use a name!) but to win games we need to get ours down. Either that or up our recent attainment of 300 to 350 and that takes some doing
DeleteAlex Hughes bowled well. I was impressed with him. He should have bowled more. Thakor was quality too. Hardus was expensive but you can tell he is what we need and with fitness his rustiness will disappear. He bowled a few wides but he did have a few stifled LBW appeals and genuinely seemed to hurry the yorks openers on a bit.
ReplyDeleteBatting wise although Smit did well he simply was too slow to get his 50. We needed the impetus that Critchley gave us much earlier. Flattered us a little that we only lost by 15 runs as we were never really in he chase.
Madsen is an absolute pleasure. What a player. I thought we lost it in two areas both within the first 10 overs of each respective innings. 1) the rate we let them get off at which meant they were always looking at pushing 350. And 2) conversely when we batted slater and Godleman simply couldn't pierce the field. That difference at the end of 10 overs of both respective innings for me pretty much was the difference and it was a very even game otherwise.
Yes the first powerplay cost us. Smit stabilised and ended up scoring faster than Madsen. Without his knock Critchley would have been in early and maybe holed out early.
DeleteA good effort but need better from bowling AND better use of Alex Hughes!
A serious question, what position would Derbyshire be in if we never had Wayne Madsen?. He's been our stand out player season after season, only Mark Footitt has got close. Heaven help us when Wayne calls it a day.
ReplyDeleteChanging the subject, what a story Sunil Narine is, who saw that coming.
ReplyDelete