Leicestershire 528
Derbyshire 313 - 8 (Guest 116, Dal 106)
Derbyshire trail by 215 runs
They are like buses. You wait all season for someone to score one and add to that of Matt Critchley early in the season, then two come on the same day.
Maiden tons they were too, one for Brooke Guest and another for Anuj Dal. Both batted quite beautifully and showed extraordinary fitness, as well as technique, in adding 227, a new county record for the sixth wicket. It beat the previous record set in 1932 by Stan Worthington and Garnet Lee, a fine pair of all rounders indeed.
I will hold my hand up as someone who had been unconvinced by Dal at this level. I have watched him since he was playing lovely cameos in the second team, have wanted him to do well, but had my doubts. There have been glimpses with both bat and ball, while no one doubts his value as a fielder, but the season averages don't lie.
After a good game at Lord's, maybe - just maybe - Anuj is getting to grips with this level. Perhaps what he needed was a role in the side, clarification that he wasn't just making up the numbers. An all round niche is certainly there for him at number seven, after the departure of Fynn Hudson-Prentice, and if he can continue to work hard - which he will - then I won't be the only one eating (and enjoying) humble pie. A new contract will almost certainly be offered now and it would need someone more churlish than I to say that it isn't deserved, regardless of early season travails.
Guest has looked good all summer, but the big score has previously eluded him. Last night he spoke of it being a good track and that we just needed to bat well on it, so he did just that. Technically correct, to bat nearly all day today after keeping wicket for two days was no mean feat of concentration and I suspect his century will be the first of many. He looks like being another reason for county followers to thank Karl Krikken, who recommended him to us and his eventual dismissal looked to be down to tiredness as much as anything else, on a red hot day.
Perhaps, like Dal, getting a run and knowing his role may be the making of him. The unfortunate injury to Harvey Hosein has given him opportunity with bat and gloves and I still think Harvey might be the better option up the order, especially if the budget isn't there for an established opener or number three.
For both of them it could be the breakthrough. They know now that they can do it at this level and while there will be better attacks and more challenging surfaces to bat on, their commitment to the cause today was exemplary and gives hope for the future.
As for the match situation, Derbyshire need to bat and keep batting. At 56-5 we were looking down a barrel, but at 313-8 we are within 66 of avoiding the follow on. I would like to think we could get through tomorrow with 12 wickets in hand, though former Derbyshire player Callum Parkinson may have the deciding role on the last afternoon.
If we don't get the draw, after today's heroics, then questions will again be asked of a batting line up that has been erratic to the extreme this year.
In closing, well batted again to Brooke and Anuj. It was a pleasure to watch and I hope that for both of you this is the catalyst for your careers.
Agree Peakfan. I think Dal looks more suited to the obvious role he has had in the last couple of games. Being 4th seamer and actually bowling some overs along with knowing his position in the order. As you say hopefully he gets confidence from that and kicks on
ReplyDeleteWonderful batting by by Guest and Dal which puts the failure of the upper order into perspective. We knew Guest could bat and it was only a matter of time before he got a big score, but Dal's failures made us all wonder if he was worth his place in the team. Let's hope both of them continue the good work. Avoiding the follow-on looks unlikely but surely we can save the game from here as long as numbers 1 to 5 in the batting order improve on their feeble efforts on the first innings.
ReplyDeleteVery pleased for Guest and Dal.
ReplyDeleteDal came into the season in fine form and yet was jettisoned very quickly after a poor start at 3. He looks to have renewed confidence over the last couple of games and maybe will bat higher in time.
Guest has hopefully hit his breakthrough score and will go on from this.
There are probably question marks over our entire top 6 at the start of the season:
Reece (Can he open batting and bowling)
Godleman (Poor form, leaving? Retiring?)
Madsen (Still looks fit but aging)
Du Plooy (Will surely be interesting others)
Critchley (Glamorgan link)
Hosein (Concussion complications)
Hopefully they're all still here next season (and in better form) but it's not hard to see us being very grateful for Guest and Dal coming of age as genuine options in the top/middle order which is what I hope they have done today.
The pitch was an absolute road no doubt so we shouldn't get too carried away but our more heralded batters didn't do the job.
Brooke Guest and Anaj Dal were sensational today, and I was delighted that both reached maiden centuries. What a confidence boost! They both applied themselves in a way that Wood, Godleman, du Plooy, Madsen, and Critchley didn’t. How is it that our middle order batsmen can bat for so long and our top order can’t (not just in this game, as we all know)?
ReplyDeleteFor me, Guest – who was signed as a wicket keeper – has looked exceptional with the bat. He’s calm, composed, and produces wonderful cover drives. When Harvey recovers, I’d play guest as a batsman. He batted for nearly seven hours!
And I think that Dal, now he’s been told what his role is, is batting with more confidence. I too was someone who doubted that he was just a bits and pieces player. I’ll willingly eat humble pie now.