Last night on this blog, I wrote that I expected Derbyshire to win their game against Glamorgan.
That we did not was down to a fine innings by their reserve wicket keeper Tom Cullen. When the game appeared up at tea, he showed enough common sense and skill to steer his side to a two wicket victory, somewhat against the odds.
It will, however, go down as another of those matches where Derbyshire squandered a winning position, indeed twice did so. Yesterday, over 100 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand, they gave away too many easy scalps, while today, when the visitors needed 85 from the last 3 wickets, the advantage should have been pressed home. Yet on the other hand, sometimes you need to credit opponents for besting you when the chips are down. Cullen, twice in this game, played an important innings and he kept wicket quite beautifully.
Fair play to Anuj Dal and Ravi Rampaul, who took the victory target close to 250 this morning, but we should have closed that game out. It is the second time in succession against these opponents where we have failed to do so and serious ambitions of promotion require such opportunities to be taken.
The season hasn't ended because of the defeat, and I am happy to praise bowling of discipline, where few extras were conceded.
This will, however, go down as the one that got away, and will doubtless be a source of frustration for supporters.
We move on to Leicester next week and must do better. We spent most of that game on the front foot, yet ended up losing it, after the first poor batting display of the summer and a lack of bowling penetration when it mattered.
More from me in the coming days.
I don't think it was down to Cullen as that is unfair on their whole middle and lower order. 6 scores over 25 proves that point. Yes he will take the paludits I am sure but it was a team chase something that when setting a target yesterday we caved in the middle order entirely and that was why I thought glamorgan were favourites. Even at tea they were in with a very good chance. Glamorgan commentator kept saying how we were favourites all along but I check the bet 365 odds regularly and favouritism as far as the bookies are concerned was flip flopping.
ReplyDeleteFact is, we were flattered in both innings by the last wicket stand. they would have been chasing 130 without it and look at the overs they batted compared to us. Absolutely shameful in a way, they batted 8 overs more in the first innings and 15 in the second innings and we had the chance to bat them out of the game and we didn't.
Bowling, well I wasn't impressed with LVB again that was 1-122 which is shocking, he couldn't keep a lid on the run rate either and if you've got an overseas bowler and he's not getting you wickets or control I think we have a problem. His all rounder credentials have also disappointed so far, admittedly its still early days but I think we may have a problem in the t20 also.
Palladino didn't bowl much today which was a shame. Also noted a bit of chit chat on twitter with Hughes and Palladino not taking any criticism well, some of the criticism OTT but I think they are best if they ignore it and concentrate on the lessons from the game rather than getting involved with tit for tat with fans online.
Overall a disappointing result in a game we should have been winning. Rampaul papered over a lot of cracks and fair play to him he didn't deserve to be on the losing side and was let down by some of his team mates this week. Next week however is a clean slate. Dal also deserves a mention, should he be up the order? Certainly ahead of Critchley for me who is a dasher and a good one when it comes off, Dal seems to want to build an innings anyway and for that reason shouldn't be at 8 but then again when Du Plooy comes in I expect Dal will be dropped. Personally would drop Hughes or Lace.
Disappointing result against a under strength Glamorgan bowling attack. It boiled down to one session that cost us the match yesterday and left to much for the tail. I do have concerns about Van Beek role in 20/20 as he not preforming to level of a overseas player who should be adding more to the team. He have come bit to early in his career as still developing (Hope i'm wrong as love to see him do well)
ReplyDeleteRavi Rampaul has faced through his career lot of negative criticism about his fitness. I do feel watching last year I could see why he has had that criticism. What we don't know about professional sports people is how they feel about there body. Bowlers are far more prone to injuries than batsman due to the nature of the role. Its great to see Ravi looking really sharpe and a different player this season.
I do think its worth mention for the Derbyshire ground staff. The wickets they have produced this year have been outstanding. Its is great advert for championship cricket at Derbyshire.
ReplyDeleteA loss and one that should have been much worse had we not had 2 exceedingly lucky last wicket stands of 50+ in each innings, against a the worst team in the competition, who lets not forget were seriously under-strength. Lets not dress things up despite your now to be expected 0 criticism PF... , credit where its due in Reece and Ravi but also criticism where its due. not everything is wonderful or unlucky. Van beek has thus far appeared to be a waste of money and taking the place of a youngster who could do no worse, whilst critchley and hughes are dreadfully inconsistent and are no longer inexperienced.
Keith
I was listening - with anticipation of a victory - to the BBC commentary on my way to collect my son from school this afternoon - in south London (born in Derby, grew up in Wirksworth). Yes, we can do it...we still can.. If we could just take a wicket now...But we didn't win. All credit to the Glamorgan tail enders.., but Derbyshire proved yet again - despite some great individual performances - that we are still an average team. We saw the same in the Royal London. Think of football and think of Manchester City or Liverpool. They have that extra bit to get them to victory. When push comes to shove, all too often we look quite ordinary. The players tried their best, but couldn't do it. Yet this game was on a plate...
ReplyDeleteGreat game of cricket but I thought Godleman's tactic to get Van Beek to bowl short, with Madsen acting as a form of backstop, was a strange one. Van Beek was bowling at a good pace against late order batsmen; surely three slips and a gully, with wickets needed, was the way to go? You're relying on abject stupidity from a batsman to take the bait there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with comments about van Beek. I would love to see him do well, but, so far, he hasn't looked the part, and he is quite expensive. At the end of the day, his bowling doesn't seem very consistent. Too many balls are off target, or give the batsman an easy chance of runs. I'm probably showing my years, but I can remember the accuracy of Mike Hendrick and also - under the guidance of Eddie Barlow - how rejuvenated the once mediocre Keith Stevenson and Colin Tunnicliffe were. Barlow transformers them. With Logan, there are echoes of Lockie Ferguson. Promised much, but delivered very little.
ReplyDeleteBilly Godleman's continuing lack of Championship form (an aggregate of 71 runs compared to Rampaul's 74)) was another factor in this defeat. Incidentally, I wonder when Derbyshire last recorded two tenth-wicket stands of over fifty in the same match.
ReplyDeleteWe will get the overseas player right one day, won't we?. Every one has been a flop since Guptill graced the county, it really has been a poor recruitment policy at Derbyshire. Concerning to lose to the worst county in the division, hope Dave Houghton has had a few harsh words with the players and tell them that wasn't acceptable.
ReplyDeleteBut you can't tell, Mark. We had Amla and Dilshan, who flopped. World class players.
DeleteGuptill wasn't then the name he became. Ferguson and Riaz were fine T20 players but did we expect both to be so? Don't think you could call them a flop in that format.
And we can't sign someone like Andre Russell, who pretty much guarantees results, or Ashwin, who has gone to Notts today, as we can't afford them.
We recruit at a different level and in doing so there is an inherent risk of failure.
Hopefully our kolpack will be back for the next game? Noticed he had a run out with the 2s on Monday. If so who to drop with Dal getting runs?
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts Steve
Chaddesden Jim
See today's piece, Jim!
DeleteI see Anon has Barlow credited for turning Tunnicliffe and Stevenson into " transformers". No wonder they did so well 😁
ReplyDelete