Derbyshire 505-8
Sussex 174 and 513-3 (Haines 243, Pujara 201*)
Match drawn
So it transpired, with both Tom Haines and Cheteshwar Pujara registering double centuries in a partnership of 351 runs and Derbyshire taking just one wicket in the day. After taking just two yesterday, it was a lot of work for the inexperienced bowlers and they will be glad to see the back of this one.
Well done to both batsmen and it is only the third time in English cricket history that three batsmen have recorded double centuries in the same match.
But it doesn't make for very exciting cricket when things are so heavily weighted in favour of batsmen. I accept, as Mickey Arthur said afterwards, it was a pitch of international standard, but taking 20 wickets to win a county match will be a challenge. All the same, both Nick Potts and Sam Conners can be proud of their efforts here.
Seems like my domestic commitments came to the fore on the right day. I hope we manage to get a better balance over the rest of the season.
Anyway, fourth in the table after two games. Looks much more encouraging!
Next stop Leicester..
With both teams short of bowlers this was the expected result on a fairly flat wicket. Although I think we could have attacked a bit more in the morning session when there was a few edges and play and misses.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing from a Derbyshire view an "X Factor" bowler was needed on the last couple of days as a partnership breaker. Either a bowler of hostile pace or a leg spinner.
Sam Conners looked the pick of the bowlers but with Lakmal, Potts and Dal also being right arm fast medium there is a danger of the attack being too samey.
Well the last two days have been very disappointing compared to the first two when I thought a huge victory was looking likely. If none of our injured seamers are close to a return then I would suggest another loan of a bowler as a huge priority.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad result but feel a little deflated after such a good start
It is encouraging, but 2 matches in may be time for a drop of realism, especially remembering that Sussex and Middlesex are not necessarily the strongest opponents we will face.
ReplyDeleteAcross the 2 matches out batsmen have scored 46 runs per wicket; our opponents 48.
Our bowlers have taken a wicket every 14 overs; our opponents every 11 overs.
37% of our runs have come from 1 batsman, and we have relied on out number 7 and 8 more than we should expect.
So yes encouraging, but the new dawn isn't very bright yet.
I would suggest this is a long term project and that DCCC are still in recovery mode from the last regime.
ReplyDelete'New dawn isn't very bright yet'?
Dead right it isn't - two games in, that's all.
I'm happy to see a little progress this season and let MA and his team do what they need, but patience will be required.
Andy
100% Andy. With 3 senior seamers injured and Melton unable to play, we don't have many options
DeleteResounding defeat for the 2nd X1 today. No-one ready to stake a first team place on that showing. Early days though.
DeleteThought the young keeper in the 2nd XI was excellent though, very lively, stood up well and not out twice. One to watch.
DeleteFirst of all, Mickey has a work in progress, It will take time to move on from last season.
ReplyDeleteAfter our mammoth score in the first innings, I thought we'd win. We didn't. All credit to Sussex, especially Haines and Pujara. Two double centuries in an innings is an absolute rarity. I couldn't under undetstand why Conners and Lakmal didn't bowl in the afternoon session. Madsen looked like he was playing in a Sunday league game.
What I find puzzling is that in games where we are set in the final innings of, say 350, with a decent number of overs left, like at Middlesex, or so, the general consensus of opinion seems to be that this will be difficult. Yet, look at Sussex today.
Okay, just two games gone, but the shadow of last season still covers us: Billy, du Plooy and Reece have all scored poorly. Remove Masood (and Madsen), then we aren't really firing yet. Hopefully, we'll see them step up a gear against Leicestershire.
Agreed, just flashes of improvement up to yet, loads of work for Mickey to do though. Agreed about those three batsmen, they really need to find some form as we can't rely on Masood to bail us out all season
DeleteOnce again no cricket on a bank holiday what is it with the ECB and playing on bank holidays there was no reason this is game couldn't have started on Friday and concluded on Monday
DeleteAgreed Ranger. ECB are clueless..
Deleteyou are right! but red ball cricket doesnt fit into their cunning plan to eradicate real cricket! They like 20 20 , hundred , 10 overs, might i suggest we have a shorter version where the captains toss up and whoever wins the toss , wins the game that will keep the required attention span down to 10 seconds and to add to the excitement , the captains can wear clown costumes! we can call it 0 0 or tossers?
ReplyDeleteWho knows what's going on within the ECB at the moment,as an example who has decided that certain centrally contracted players cannot play for their counties what's the logic behind telling Jimmy Anderson he can't play for Lancashire? Regarding the appointment of Rob Key as head honcho the question I would ask him is "if either a batsmen or bowler in Div 2 is playing well will that person get a fair chance of playing for England and not simply ignored because they are playing Div 2 cricket?"
ReplyDelete