Glamorgan 394
Derbyshire 504-4 (Godleman 211*, Lace 143, Hosein 53*)
Derbyshire lead by 110 runs
While the weather looks like it will have the final say on this match, Derbyshire's players will undoubtedly make the long journey home in fine fettle.
The only chance of a positive result is really in our batting till lunchtime tomorrow, then bowling our hosts out in two sessions. It seems unlikely, given the run glut that has taken place over the past two days, especially with the forecast suggesting more morning rain.
Irrespective of that, both Billy Godleman and Tom Lace will likely float their way home, having both made career-best scores today.
For Lace it was a maiden first class hundred, but hardly a surprise. Since the start of the season he has looked a very organised player, with plenty of time to play his shots. He has been creative in some of his dismissals, otherwise could have reached this landmark before now.
But I have every confidence that this will be the catalyst for a long and glittering career. I just hope that the next few years of that will be in Derbyshire colours and I don't think that any of us should discount that possibility, especially as he seems to be enjoying his cricket.
As for the skipper, it is just the latest example of him doing what he knows and what he knows works. Also an example of a professional cricketer 'drinking at the well', a time when form and conditions mesh together to create an opportunity for something special.
Whisper it quietly, but another 64 runs tomorrow will see Billy with the highest score ever made by a Derbyshire batsman in first class cricket. I could think of no-one more deserving of that landmark total and I hope that the weather allows him that opportunity.
With no real merit in an early declaration tomorrow, whatever time is possible should be used to enable him to go for it.
I reckon that George Davidson would approve. That 1896 innings against Lancashire has stood atop the records for too long and it would be great to see it go before the club's 150th celebrations next year.
Harvey Hosein scored a half century of his own to help to take the score past 500 by the close of play. It is worthy of note that as a team we have scored more centuries this summer already than we did last year.
It speaks volumes for the batting coaching of Dave Houghton, as well as for a side that has generally taken an impressive, collective approach to run scoring.
Only a couple of times has this failed, but we are undoubtedly moving in the right direction.
I'd say Wayne Madsen is more deserving but I do like Billy. He looks dreadful half the time, plays and misses like a number 11 a remarkable amount for a top order batsman and makes Inzamam look like Jonty Rhodes between the sticks.
ReplyDeleteDespite all of that he has the ability to throw up the form book and bat long like today.
Well done Billy; I'm raising a can of Old Mout to you right now!
Have to score the runs but terrible cricket wicket. whats the point?
ReplyDeleteI thought Peter Bowler was going to do it against Hants at Portsmouth back in 92 John Morris declared over night and Ian Bishop bowled them out with plenty of time to spate
ReplyDeleteAn epic performance. I'm delighted for both Billy and Tom Lace. Who would have thought we'd hit 500 after that massive partnership at the back end of the Glamorgan innings.
ReplyDeleteOn a slightly negative note, as I listened to the BBC commentary in the final session today I found myself agreeing with the BBC Wales commentator who felt that Billy and Harvey Hosein should have really gone for it instead of taking singles and pushing twos. I would have thought with so many runs on the board, and du Ploy and Critchley to come in, that this was the time to smash 4s and 6s around the ground, which, apparently, has a short boundary.
Nevertheless, a fantastic display today. And it's brilliant that Tom Lace's dad was in the crowd to see his son reach a major milestone.
Let's hope we can hold on to Lace.
Chesney Hughes was left only five short of the record when he ran out of partners at Headingley in 2013. Derbyshire scored 475 and still lost by an innings.
ReplyDeleteFabulous listening today to "the fletch" on bbc radio.
ReplyDeleteGreat innings billy & tom
And vw done hose..and all hes fellow falcons.
"C'mon you falcons!"
Even if it's only a draw, good thing is that maximum points have been gained which puts Derbyshire more or less level with second and third. Will need a big effort next week. Well done to Godleman/Lace - regardless of the pitch, still has do be done and they have scored at a good rate.
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