Derbyshire 557-6
MIddlesex 436-6 (Malan 177*)
Derbyshire lead by 121 runs
I think most people, by now, will have worked out that this has not been a wicket where Dave Houghton had 6mm of grass left on it.
The result has been that our batsmen have gained confidence, but the outcome of the match is an inevitable draw.
Malan played a fine innings for the visitors today, and only 3 wickets went down. One of them went to Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who followed an innings of 99 on debut with a wicket from his first ball for the county. He went on to bowl tidily, which is all he could be expected to do on such a track.
I am away on holiday at present, so will not go into greater detail, but this game is a nailed on draw tomorrow. I don't expect many people will bother going along, when another day like today appears in prospect.
More from me soon.
12 wickets in 3 days. What a waste of time watching to be honest. Hope discussions are had behind the scenes to stop this happening again.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely hopeless when two innings aren't even completed after the third day. You go to cricket to see a result, so what is the point of this game as it stands?
ReplyDeleteI made the comment after the first day that I thought Derbyshire's score was well above par for a pitch that had some mischief in it, and there was still enough on day 2 to make you think that a positive result might be possible. But as I said, Derby wickets often flatter to deceive and go to sleep on the third and fourth day. I don't think more grass will make much of a difference, and in fact, on wickets like this leaving grass on to create some spice on the first day creates a problem for us when we almost inevitably have to bat first on it. We seem to get one of these a year (I remember the bore draw against Leicestershire a couple of years ago) and it would be interesting to know if it's the same pitch. I think the corollary to leaving more grass on has to be to make it more likely to deteriorate later on, otherwise we're going to get the thin end of both wedges.
ReplyDeleteI probably will be one of the few venturing down today. The morning is almost certainly a session to miss, as the only feasible activity will be Middlesex grinding on in their particularly unambitious style, or (much less likely) 90 minutes of hit and giggle to set up a target. I can't imagine either captain wanting to risk setting or chasing a target here, and probable the only chance of a positive outcome is for us to have one of the horror sessions when we bat again.
Apart from the very encouraging batting performances from so many, and the impressive bowling of Prentice-Hudson who found bounce and unpredictability where no-one else did, one of the points of real note was how far down the bowling pecking-order van Beek has dropped. After being second change at the start of the innings and bowling only 4 overs in which he released the pressure that Palladino and Reece had built up over 15 overs after tea on the second day, he got only a handful of overs at the start (presumably to try to unsettle the night watchman) and then didn't bowl again until after the second new ball, now 4th change behind Hudson-Prentice and Hughes. Perhaps there was an element of lifting a slow over-rate with the increasing likelihood that Derbyshire won't bowl twice, or focusing on the bowlers most likely to find some swing, but it was hard to avoid the sense that both confidence and expectations of him are waning. The impressive performances of Connor and (if it's sustained) the good start by H-P provide new options for the 4 day side, but the more pressing question is whether, given what we saw from him in the one day cup, he can be relied on in the t20.
On current form Van Beek doesn’t merit inclusion ,he may stay in the team based on other factors linked to a small squad and the need for rotation
ReplyDeleteWhen Lace and Madsen are back, hopefully in Wayne’s case next game, there is a tough decision to be made. Personally, I would drop Hughes and one of Dal/Hudson-Prentice. Critchley is also under threat for me. Ok he averages 30 odd but Du Plooy looks more likely to take wickets. Lots of strength in depth now which is good for keeping people on their toes. I am afraid van Beek should be released and we should give the likes of Connors, Hudson-Prentice, Gleadall more opportunities with next season in mind as let’s face it van Beek won’t be here. Would be keen on 2 new t20 players it there was the opportunity. Would take Neesham back to be fair
ReplyDeleteExactly, I think we just need to accept that it hasn't worked out with Van Beek and leave him out from now on. Conners will offer more, let's give him a run in the side. Oh for another top overseas signing, we're long overdue one.
ReplyDelete