Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 2

Derbyshire 378 (Reece 111, Hughes 82, Dal 64, Carey 4-61)

Glamorgan 214-4

There was another cool but sunny start to the day, which warmed up nicely as the morning session progressed. Derbyshire lost wickets steadily, but took their total to 378 all out by lunch, largely thanks to a fine knock by Anuj Dal, who made a maiden first-class half century and went on to 64, before the innings ended.

Both Hughes and van Beek were bowled by Carey, the former for an excellent 82, but thereafter it was down to Dal to take the score close to the 'target' of 350. He survived a blow on the helmet from the hostile Douthwaite, who looks a good find by the Welsh county, and once again looked a busy and organised batsman, capable of batting higher than number eight in an admittedly long order.

A decent crowd for a Monday enjoyed his strokeplay, one straight drive drawing appreciative purrs as it fizzed past the bowler, but his wristy shots through mid wicket were my personal highlight. As lunch approached, spin was introduced at each end to try and break an excellent last wicket stand with Ravi Rampaul, during which Dal reached an excellent maiden championship fifty.

He was eventually bowled by the returning Michael Hogan for a fine 64, an innings that should give him great confidence, but credit is due to Rampaul, who supported him well in a last wicket stand that could be very important as the game progresses.

In the afternoon session, one could only admire the discipline of the Derbyshire bowlers, as Glamorgan reached 60 for the loss of Selman. It was 28 overs of hard graft, with several edges and three very loud and confident appeals by the home side. Palladino was his usual, metronomic self, ten overs for thirteen indicative of his control over line and length. It was he who took the wicket, Selman well caught low down by Critchley at slip, but an excellent spell by van Beek is worthy of note.

This, for me, was his best spell in Derbyshire colours, working up a head of pace and beating the batsmen with several deliveries that nipped away. There was a greater control of line and length and I hope that it is indicative of better form in the coming weeks.

Wickets were needed after tea and Rampaul removed the dangerous Labuschagne, who shouldered arms to be leg before. The next wicket took some time, however, and came when skipper Lloyd attempted to play Reece off his legs and lobbed an outside edge to Dal at point. Hemphrey remained phlegmatic and despite several close calls reached a hard-grafted fifty.

He was finally dismissed for 75 by van Beek's extra pace, late on the shot playing across the line and palpably leg before. It was a valuable innings for his side, though he will bat better and score fewer runs.

At the close, the visitors had reached 214-4 and something special needs to happen for a positive result to be reached here. While the ball beats the bat regularly, there does not appear enough devil in the wicket, at least at this stage. The in-form Billy Root, unbeaten on 53, lies in the way of a first innings lead.

It is a big first session tomorrow.