Matt Critchley and Anuj Dal shared the first century seventh wicket partnership for Derbyshire at Headingley (statistic courtesy David Griffin) and the two batting bonus points kept us top of and in control of the group.
Matt is playing much straighter this year and looks a very good player. I suspect he will become established at five for us and be a massive asset in the years ahead.
Anuj has gone from a player struggling to find his way in the first class game to one who looks at home. He fields brilliantly, which was always his route into the team, but can bowl more than usefully and here showed why he was a highly-regarded teenage batsman in the top three.
He is organised, busy, quick on his feet and has a good range of shots. His response to the mini-crisis on Monday, pulling Olivier for three boundaries, highlighted his calm persona.
He is a very good cricketer.
Durham next, which may see the return of Messrs Reece, Hudson-Prentice and Palladino.
But we acquitted ourselves well here, and can be proud of the collective effort.
The team has shown a lot of character in the three games, with every player contributing something. This was illustrated by the way Critchley and Dal knuckled down to get us to the 300 mark against Yorkshire. If we can roll over Durham and collect maximum batting and bowling points along the way, then we will be well set for the final game and the possibility of being of of the teams in the final.
ReplyDeleteYes yet another good performance from DCCC, we got ourselves into a position where a couple of years ago we would have capitulated, but, like in the other two games, someone stands up to pull us through. It is testament to our coaches over the last few years firstly for finding then developing players who could not get a game at their previous counties, Reece, Hudson-Prentice & Dal, and made them into integral parts of our squad. I think they would probably now walk into any of the County teams they left, I don't think they will have been big 'chequebook' signings like our unsuccessful neighbours at the other end of A52. How long has it been since we could say it is difficult to choose what is our strongest IX from a squad of 15/16 players. Roll on Durham!
ReplyDelete