Derbyshire 505-8
Sussex 174 and 278-2 (Haines 164*, Pujara 57*)
Derbyshire lead by 53 runs
Sussex have some good players and were unlikely to bat as badly a second time. With players missing, I don't think this our strongest attack either, while the wicket shows little real sign of deterioration.
Therein lies a challenge. 'Good cricket wickets' offer something to batsmen and bowlers alike. Taunton, for example, isn't a good cricket wicket, because the bowlers will always hold the ascendancy. So too Chelmsford, where it will usually spin to suit Simon Harmer et al. But they ARE result wickets, an important distinction.
We must remember ours is a team in evolution. We haven't become world-beaters overnight, but we are much more competitive. That will do for now, but we need some bowlers fit and Lakmal getting on a wicket to suit him. I suspect his opinion of the wicket here quite different to Shan Masood and I feel for him. He has bowled much better in this game and offered good control, but he will be better with a few wickets behind him, perhaps a little more grass left on a track.
We also need to hold our catches and a few have been put down here, which never helps. Haines, a fine player, took advantage and batted beautifully today, with far better support.
The thinking money is now on a draw, with early breakthroughs tomorrow essential for us to force a positive result. I wouldn't expect Sussex, even though without a point in the game so far, to set us a run chase on the last afternoon, so we need to keep working away.
Small steps. Some of them, perforce, will be backwards.
Agree totally with being more competitive. I can only imagine the relief felt by the remaining senior players this now is the case. Seems a massive improvement from Madsen this season already (form is temporary etc etc) and Billy's captaincy seems far more proactive.
ReplyDeleteSuffice to say I'm looking forward to seeing the Derbyshire score this year, rather than that sinking feeling we've all experinced over the last couple of years.
Dave, from a very sunny Wirral peninsula
No surprise to me that Sussex have made hay today. The pitch is perfect for batting and it was a big surprise that they collapsed yesterday. Haines looked a class batsman in the first innings and is holding us up today. Perhaps we will get some early wickets tomorrow but a draw looks more likely. At least we have kept their scoring rate down. All part of the learning circle for our younger players I guess.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing today, but are a work in progress. We have enough time tomorrow to get a win.
ReplyDeleteMicky can now see where our strengths and weaknesses are.
In terms of our batting, du Plooy has to become a big player. We've seen what he can do in his first season. Hopefully, Ian Bell can help him become a batsman who can take apart attacks again.
The coach has to realise like coaches/captains in the past that to get results from the pitches at Derby some grass head to be left on
ReplyDelete