Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 1

Leicestershire 199 (Dearden 70, Melton 4-22, Reece 3-51)

Derbyshire 101-1 (Reece 50* Madsen 37*)

Derbyshire trail by 98 runs

It was entirely appropriate that, on a day of soaring temperatures, the Derbyshire bowling effort should be led by a man named Melton..

Dustin of that name didn't make the most of his few senior appearances last year, perhaps being overawed by the experience, but today he made amends. After winter ankle surgery and hard work on his bowling he looked a completely different player, his line and length impeccable, his pace brisk as he blew away the home side's middle order.

Three were bowled, one caught at slip and he could have had another, du Plooy failing to cling on to a fast one, up to his left. This was the Melton I had seen in second team displays, hostile and accurate. His figures of 13-5-22-4 did not flatter him. 

It was an excellent effort by the strapping quick, who was well supported by Luis Reece and Sam Conners, who again impressed, though a little jaded in his final spell. Ed Barnes bowled some good balls in his spells, but a tendency to a loose one an over was to the detriment of his figures.

Harvey Hosein had a good day too, looking much tidier in his work than at Trent Bridge. His excellent stumping of the talented Azad from all of 20 yards built on the early dismissal of Ben Slater and he later held a good catch off Alex Hughes, standing up. I would love to see a good knock from him now, to build on it. 

Only Harry Dearden lasted for long. He played some fine shots, but a tendency to play across his front pad always gave encouragement to the Derbyshire bowlers. Dogged late resistance from Will Davis promised a batting bonus point, but Reece prevented that with a run to spare. 

Luis then completed the rare feat of opening both bowling and batting on the same day and breezed to an unbeaten half century by the close, well supported by the classy Wayne Madsen, who looked equally good as the score chugged along at five an over. Reece is a unique commodity, one of huge value to his captain, who got a good ball from Chris Wright before he got going.

Closing at 101-1, just 98 runs behind, tomorrow's task is to bat all day and build a lead so we do not have to bat again. There is sufficient talent there to do so and in this battle of the table-toppers, Derbyshire looked a very good side today.

The Leicestershire stream was appreciated, though there were lagging issues with the pictures and also sound problems. It was oddly parochial too. There were replays of squirts through gulley for two, but none of wickets, or chances missed in the home innings. Nor any replays at all when we batted.

It was as if they were in denial... 

Let's bat them out of the game tomorrow, lads.