Lancashire 239-6 (Jennings 84, Lehmann 77*, Watt 2-50
Derbyshire 209-7 (Dal 52, Godleman 42, Hosein 41*
Lancashire won by 30 runs
For the first time this season, Derbyshire's batsmen let them down at Old Trafford today.
They had bowled fairly steadily, and the closing overs from Mark Watt and Ravi Rampaul were excellent and starved the home side of boundaries. Watt is proving a sound acquisition for white ball cricket and will probably feature strongly in the T20.
Keaton Jennings played a good innings for Lancashire, but he enjoyed the kind of luck that eluded him in England colours. There were two strong appeals for LBW and the Derbyshire side seemed quite confident in the caught and bowled by Critchley, when he had made only 29. Lehmann also batted well on debut and looks a sound signing.
The target was not out of the question at the halfway mark, but after a good start had been made against the seam attack, the batting was strangled by the home side's spinners.
Nor did we help our cause with silly running that saw both Luis Reece and Alex Hughes run out. The writing was on the wall when Wayne Madsen was caught on the boundary edge and he was quickly followed by Tom Lace, who was deceived by a slower ball as he went to sweep.
When Matt Critchley hit a long hop, one that he could have planted anywhere on the leg side, straight down the throat of mid wicket, the chase was effectively done.
A good stand followed between Dal and Hosein and they ran very well. Anuj played his best innings for the county, full of the wristy strokes I have admired in the second team. Hosein did well at the other end, but we were always behind the run rate. Boundaries did not come often enough, but their sprightly effort was at odds with the more leaden footed batting of the top order.
Dal reached a deserved 50 with two overs to go, but by then was clearly struggling with a leg strain and he edged through to wicket keeper Vilas.
Hosein finished unbeaten on 41 but the overriding feeling was that with a little more savvy at the top of the innings, this was one we perhaps should have won.
A key word for me this season is going to be "patience". It is easy after a defeat to say drop him or him.
ReplyDeleteBut if we are patient with the team this season it will be for the better for us in the long term. We can't keep starting again each year.
I would like to see Tom Wood given a full contract. Other counties must be aware of his potential and the runs he is scoring for the 2nd XI would surely be beginning to attract attention from round the country.
Strange run chase Peakfan. You always know it will be a turning pitch at Old Trafford so need to get after the new ball but we seemed to plod along and it was out of reach by the time Madsen went leaving not much time for the rest. Odd way to approach what was essentially a knock out game. Would rather have been 175 all out off 25 overs than the tactics taken today. Disappointing
ReplyDeleteHi PF
ReplyDeleteYou'll remember I went to town somewhat about professionalism at a Second Team game at Hem Heath last season, well here's an opportunity to enhance that.
Yesterday at Old Trafford it wasn't a very pleasant morning. Cold and wet would best describe it.
When the ground staff began their work on removing rain and the covers, then as soon as it was safe to do so the Lancashire squad were out in full force for an extended and impressive warm up.
The Derbyshire squad, in dribs and drabs, followed. Not immediately and seemingly not that willingly. Imagine a Division Seven Sunday League team's enthusiasm the first morning after the clocks have gone forward, and you'll have the picture..
Now I'm not saying it affects performance, nor the result. I think Derbyshire haven't done too badly in this format, and have possibly over achieved, but the perception today before the game was of a side that didn't really want to be there, and I wasn't surprised at the result.
Disappointing end to a largely well fought campaign. Not a Maths genius but sure that loss meen we won’t progress . Encouraging signs though. Losing the Kolpack was key I feel. His runs may well have been the difference. Billy really does need to bat the situation some times. The first 10 overs of the chase was where we lost it I feel. Running partners out is also not one of his most attractive trates. Never the less a noble effort all round I think. Early days but signs look hopefull for a good season. All the signings seem to be doing ok and contributing.
ReplyDeleteAgree with David Bruce. Wood deserves his contract . Over 300 runs already in April. 2 big match winning innings . One a hundred against a very good Warwickshire attack n a test bowler. The lads done all that could have been asked of him. Chaddesden Jim
Really couldn't have engineered a more abject batting display if they had tried. Again, very amateurish in approach. Godleman needs to reflect on his own calling techniques and realise that running out your partner or at least refusing to run, when he is an essential part of the team and is going well, is extremely unwise and might well be considered selfish since it is happening with regularity. Hosein continues to impress, doing his job(s) well and very professionally and well done to Dall, who used his head and did well. Below par performances from most of the others and imo very poor leadership AGAIN.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't able to go yesterday - election commitments - but the weather was foul and I was a little surprised that they managed as much as 38 overs per side.
ReplyDeleteAs Gary says, they prepare for their spinners and there are big boundaries. I went to their first game against Worcs and Croft got a real hammering but it looks that he got it right yesterday. If Parkinson's batting was better he'd be a candidate for the England one day sides but really there should have been a plan to counter these two.
Very pleased for Dal - he really needed a decent innings.
Qualification hopes are slim now but either way would be good to finish with a win on Monday
Completely agree with every sentiment PF. Some of the comments on here and on the Falcons forum are nothing short of pathetic.
ReplyDeleteAs you say,nobody drops catches or runs people out deliberately,yet to read some of the comments,you would think it was part of the plan.
We have had some good wins,and competed well in EVERY game (bar Notts).They were so unfortunate not to turn Yorks over the other day after being set such a stiff target (i will never truly understand the DL system).
Thats all i hope for from my team. To be competitive,and be hard to beat.
Of course in an ideal world we would like to have ALL the team perform at their best on all occasions,but at clubs like ours with the smallest budget bar one, you also have to be realistic.
However, i AM very much more in favour of the new structure of the cricketing side of the club. Great to have DH back at the head of it,and SK as his assistant and bowling coach.
I am probably more hopeful that they can gt the best out of the younger talented players at the club,as well as identifying promising available and affordable players from elsewhere and providing a path to the first team for those able to take the opportunity.
I'm probably more hopeful about Derbyshires future than i have been for a good few years,and just cannot understand the comments of some of the posters that i've seen recently.