Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 1

Derbyshire  282-5 (Guest 109, Madsen 70, Masood 60, Hogan 3-45, Neser 2-50)

v Glamorgan

A38 to Sir Frank Whittle Way, then on to the County Ground.

I have done it dozens - hundreds - of times over the years, yet the excitement never palls. Even on a cold, overcast day, the excitement is no less and I made sure to get there early, just after 9.30am today.

It afforded an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new, as well as to confirm that my forays from the Media Centre included my big jacket over a thick fleece. 

Derbyshire won the toss and opted to bat first against the all-Australian attack of Michaels Neser and Hogan. A keen attack too against the Derbyshire southpaws, Masood bravely the only man on the pitch, almost certainly the ground, in short sleeves.

The first ten overs were a challenge, but safely negotiated, before Godleman pushed at Hogan, who had probed nicely, and was caught behind. Both bowlers had beaten the bat and the dismissal was no more than Glamorgan deserved.

Guest came in to join Masood, who assayed nary an ambitious stroke in the first hour, playing straight and contenting himself with the now trademark tucks off his legs. One from the bowling of Harris flew to the rope, but it was a morning for accumulation, rather than speculation.

The advent of Harris and van der Gugten maintained the intensity of a keen and experienced seam attack, three of them in their thirties, with Hogan now 40.

Lloyd came closest to a breakthrough with a good shout for lbw against Masood, but Derbyshire got to lunch at 74-1, Guest having played the shot of the morning, a glorious cover drive for four. Masood was still there on 33.

He opened up after the interval, a flurry of boundaries taking him to yet another fifty. Yet the conditions were far from easy and Hogan caught and bowled him from a leading edge, ending a stand of 93 with Guest. The loud murmur of disappointment from the crowd reflected the mood and indeed surprise of the county support, yet the innings could hardly be considered a failure.

Thereafter, until tea was taken at 210-2, Guest and Madsen batted beautifully. Guest's footwork was good, his timing a joy to watch. Madsen's rich vein of form continued and a promising situation had been built.

Madsen was first to his landmark in the evening session, reaching a fifty that as always was worth watching. He continues to be a player of the highest class and went past 18,000 all-format runs for the county today. Only Kim Barnett, Denis Smith, John Morris and Derek Morgan now lie ahead of him. What a player he has been for Derbyshire! 

Guest duly reached his second century for us and his first at number three. It was made in challenging conditions that required a watchful approach, but nonetheless contained some sumptuous strokes. With this innings he would appear to have settled the debate over who bats three in this format. Once he got going he lost nothing in comparison to Madsen and I can offer no higher praise.

Neser finally got his reward for some excellent bowling by pinning Madsen leg before, the stand broken after 161 runs. Both he and Hogan threatened all day and Derbyshire's seam bowlers will have enjoyed the regularity with which the ball beat the bat, despite the home side's impressive tally.

Guest finally went for 109, bowled by an excellent ball from Hogan, who belied his years all day. Conners didn't last long in the evening gloom, a night watchman experiment that failed and three wickets had fallen for six runs to the second new ball. 

The umpires brought them off for bad light soon afterwards, but Derbyshire will still be fairly happy with 282-5.

Hopefully we can build on that tomorrow.