Leicestershire 199 and 220 (Dearden 47, Azad 40, Critchley 6-73)
Derbyshire 408 and 12-1
Derbyshire won by 9 wickets
Matt Critchley's career-best bowling figures spun Derbyshire to an emphatic nine-wicket win at Leicester today.
There was early and late resistance from the home side, who went in one crazy session from looking like taking it into a fourth day to looking like being beaten by an innings. Critchley lived up to to pre-season noises from former Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill as one to watch with a fine spell, where he bowled a brilliant line and length, supported by excellent close catching.
Both Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy held fine catches, the former's quite brilliant, while at the other end Dustin Melton bowled a tight, aggressive spell that kept on the pressure. The South African impressed in this game and deserves praise for match figures of 5-47 from 27 overs. It wasn't easy for the quicks in hot conditions, but he stuck very well to his task.
Earlier Ed Barnes took two wickets in an over to start the ball rolling and did much better in this innings. He accounted for Ben Slater, who went from the joys of a career-best 170 in the last match to a pair in this one, the joy and frustration of cricket clearly defined in those figures. Like the debutants in the last match, he settled well and didn't look out of place at this level.
The other wicket went to Leus du Plooy, who was brought on to bowl just ten minutes after I suggested on Twitter that we should utilise his 'golden arm'. He duly obliged in a spell that showed his all round value to the side.
Yet the day belonged to Critch. His 6-73 was a fine effort and although Callum Parkinson got the wicket of Billy Godleman when we went in (Billy wasn't impressed, nor was I from the replay) the win was a formality. It was all very well saying (as I heard) that 'if they had to chase 120 it would have been a challenge' but we bowled and batted well enough to prevent that. I was impressed, again.
Onward we march. Yorkshire on Saturday, who will either be buoyed by a win over our dear neighbours tomorrow or plumbing the depths of despair. A Nottinghamshire win would likely suit us (it's OK, I said it through gritted teeth) as it would leave us well clear of second place in the group.
Quite frankly, with the kind of cricket that we are playing at the moment, it doesn't matter who we play. It is confident, aggressive, bullish and hugely enjoyable. It is a small but patently tight-knit squad. Whichever eleven takes the field, we know they will be well-prepared and ready to roll their sleeves up for a battle. The greatest compliment of all is that I genuinely couldn't name our strongest eleven right now, because the squad en masse is playing so well.
I like that, a lot.
Altogether now...Derbyshire, la la la...
Can anyone offer any logical reason why Yorkshire are making next weekend's live stream for members only. I would have thought making cricket available to the widest possible audience would have been paramount in these particular times. It's not as if they're going to lose any gate money!
ReplyDeleteIs that the case? Fair enough to look after members but surely not at the total exclusion of all others. I'm sure someone enterprising can get around it....
DeleteMy understanding is that Derbyshire members will also be able to watch with a code that will be sent out or published on each morning of the game.
DeleteThe club will doubtless clarify this in the coming days
I suspect that part of the logic is to give their members something that isn't generally available so they feel they're getting some value for their money and don't ask for their money back - we all know about Yorkshireness after all. I think Lancashire is doing the same, but you're right that they aren't making any money from it, and I'm sure they could have worked out a way for non-members to pay. Sussex did it last year though I don't know whether they made anything from it. While it's understandable that counties want to give their members something, it seems to me that it misses a trick though. With so many people stuck at home either on furlough or having holidays cancelled and an unmet hunger for live sport, this could have been a fabulous shop window for county cricket if it had been widely promoted. Instead, cricket is shutting its doors to the casual followers who might be drawn in without the need for expensive, destructive gimmicks like the 100.
DeleteCouldn't have put it better myself Peakfan, confidence is a huge key with this squad I feel and we have it in spades at this moment in time. Derbyshire la la la.......
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have some real strength developing. Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy is a good a top four as you will find anywhere and now the middle order unit of HP, Hosein and Critchley is starting to look very handy indeed. Given we seem to have half a dozen quicks putting their hand up to boot it bodes well.
ReplyDeleteApart from life members Derbyshire don’t have any members this season?I certainly haven’t been asked to renew my membership this season are Derbyshire not able to provide their own live feed?i thought the live feeds were apart of an idea to give people access to county cricket
ReplyDeleteThe club has members, for sure. Yorkshire are incentivising membership as they need most of theirs to bale them out of serious financial issues.
ReplyDeleteMind you, all are in same boat, but I take your point on making the game accessible for supporters
Derbyshire has members that have paid for this season, you have until August 14th. to claim a refund which would mean your membership would cease. You can defer and pay just £99 for next season., or make this season's subscription a gift to the club and pay £150 for next season.
ReplyDeleteWhich gives you various benefits, including membership of the 150 club
Just to clarify, the stream is available to Derbyshire members. The club will email a link on each morning
ReplyDeleteI can see grumpy Yorkshire fans sharing those widely unlessthe link is somehow unique and one use only.
DeleteMore trouble than it's worth surely in my opinion. No member of either club would begrudge other cricket fans having the opportunity to watch it.
Morning Peakfan, it has been great to watch two fantastic performances and your season preview looks like being spot on. It is great to see all the players contributing-a sign of a good team. I wonder what our best Xi is now?! It would be interesting to see Milton and Cohen bowling together. Any news on Rampaul arriving? I wonder if we will only see him for the T20.Thanks for the update on Guest, he seems like a good signing, but I hope we stick with McDermott for next year's T20.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the game against Yorkshire!
Clay Cross Mark
Looks like Derbyshire v Somerset or Essex for the final then. A Yorkshire win would put them within a few points of us, but otherwise an 18 point lead with 3 to play (and one of those against Durham) means that in all likelihood one of the others need to win 2 of their remaining games. Not to count chickens too soon, but following a gritty fighting win against Notts, this looked a very dominant performance against a team that simply looked cowed, even after their own stirring win last week. Everyone who comes into the team seems to catch the mood and mentality. After looking over-awed in the first innings, Barnes looked a real handful in the second. The only one of the bowlers who didn't impress was Connors, perhaps a little tired still from his efforts at trent Bridge, but also maybe just bowling too short. The real revelation for me was Melton, who I saw at the back end of last year, and really hoped never to see playing for us again, he was so poor. He looked a totally different bowler here, relentless with his accuracy and aggression, and reminded me of nothing less than the great Ole Mortensen - similar ungainly arm-pumping approach, stiff-legged but slightly tangled delivery stride, flop of dark hair, but most importantly in this game, the sort of results we used to get from Mortensen day in, day out. I can't think of a better testimony for a bowler of his type, though he might want to find an old video so he can start to model the anguished roar.
ReplyDeleteI thought Sam looked a little jaded in the second innings and wouldn't be surprised to see him rested at Headingley.
DeleteAs for Dustin, like other new bowlers I am prepared to give the benefit of the doubt. The step up can see them overawed, trying too hard to impress and bowling too quickly. He also made his debut against the Aussies, from memory, who are pretty unforgiving!
In addition he had an ankle problem which didn't help him in delivery stride and he had surgery on in the winter.
I agree, he looked very good and aggressive. I also think he will have been in the UK for 5 years next April, so MIGHT qualify for a UK passport.
If that is the case, and he continues to bowl like in this match, he would be a strong contender for a contract
The ecb press release is quite clear that members AND FANS should be able to watch:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1738201/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bob-willis-trophy
County members and fans will be able to watch the new red-ball tournament via live streaming on First-Class County websites while highlights of each day’s play are also set to be available.
Just goes to show the value of organisation, a little bit of love and team spirit. No out and out stars in this squad Madsen must be in the top 10 batsmen never to have played for England. Du Plooy will get there but not yet. Chritchley is not being mentioned in hushed tones but look at us sitting proudt proud stop all 18 Counties. Absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteDiametrically opposite to our near and rich neighbours who have consistently hoovered up the best talent and yet havnt won a red ball game since 2018 that is shocking
With the hundred still lurking, it's even more pertinent to be relevant and winning and boy we are doing this in style. Rob in Essex