Fascinating game for seconds

I am thoroughly enjoying following the exploits of the Derbyshire second team this summer.

Whisper it quietly, but Daryn Smit is doing something quite special with a side made up primarily of trialists and Academy players. Given the small staff, he rarely has the luxury of contracted players, which makes their current unbeaten record all the more impressive.

Smit is no stranger to captaincy, of course, having been the highly regarded skipper of the Dolphins franchise in South Africa, where he won several trophies.

Were the current match a first team fixture, it would probably be set to enter county folklore

Yesterday they were bowled out before lunch for just 55 runs, and were batting again before the close, having bowled out Essex for 173. At 41-1 they were looking down a barrel, but an astonishing recovery today, led by their captain, sees them go into the final day with all results possible.

Smit made a superb unbeaten 137 from 154 balls, batting at number eight and was supported throughout the order. Fynn Hudson-Prentice made 76, Connor Marshall, playing his cricket at Sandiacre this summer, made 71 and there were forties for Tom Wood and Jesse Dinnie.

It left Derbyshire all out for 443 and  with a lead of 325, made against an attack with considerable first team experience and also including Netherlands international, Shane Snater.

Mention should also be made for the sterling efforts of number eleven Dustin Melton, who stayed at the crease to allow Smit to reach his century and then forge on to take the Derbyshire lead past the 300 mark in a partnership of 68 runs. Melton made just eight, but those extra runs could be crucial tomorrow.

Essex closed on 66-1,Melton taking the wicket and a terrific final day is in store 

It is heartening to see such a level of commitment from the second team. They look like being worth a watch this summer, so do pop along to see them whenever you are able to do so.

More from me on the exciting finish to this match tomorrow.