Derbyshire 304 (Masood 91, Dal 52, Thomson 45 Helm 3-52)
Middlesex lead by 298 runs
It was a curate's egg kind of day for Derbyshire today. There was a good and valuable partnership between Anuj Dal and Alex Thomson after both overnight batsmen perished when well set, but then the last four wickets fell without further addition to the score.
It was an innings - granted the first of the summer - that highlighted the frailties of last year. Masood apart, the next highest score of the top six was only 28. While the lengthy occupation of the crease was laudable, the bottom line is that we need more runs from those players.
When Middlesex batted again, three wickets went down and the ground fielding was excellent, but White and Holden then made hay in the evening sunshine. The four-man attack was exposed and I would have to say Lakmal looks a little undercooked in this game. I think he is better than figures of 2-166, but his debut hasn't been the success we hoped for. I am sure that things will improve.
So to tomorrow, and we will see what kind of target Middlesex set. There appear few real issues in the pitch, but like all supporters I will hope for our handling the home attack with a little more elan than was broadly managed first time around.
I won't entertain too many hopes of a massive, successful run chase, especially this early in the season.
But I will be disappointed if we lose here.
An excellent stand between Dal and Thompson but those 4 wickets going down for no runs pegged us back. It is also obvious that Middlesex are a far better team than we are. Our batting plodded along at 2 and a half runs an over whereas the home team batting again have sped along at 4 and a half an over. The best we can hope for is a draw.
ReplyDeleteInteresting last day to come. We can, and should, get a draw. Good luck lads!
ReplyDeleteAndy
Or maybe their batting speeds along at a faster rate helped by the fact we are a bowler short. I would agree though that at this point they are a better side, and they are without their overseas. However, we have effectively played this game with 10 men.
ReplyDeleteShame that our collapse today was started by Dal seemingly being given out lbw when he hit it. Typical of our luck at the moment.
I was feeling quite chipper as Dal and Thomson built their partnership (even though the run rate was slow, like last season), but then came the collapse (again, like last season).
ReplyDeleteHowever, we did well in getting Middx to sixty odd for three…but then we let the game slip (just like last season).
To be fair to Lakmal, this is his first time playing for an English side, and I’m sure he will get better.
One of my major concerns last season was our inability to motor with the bat. Too many dot balls. There were so many games we got bogged down. With Micky as coach and Bell as batting coach, we all, I’m sure, have high expectations.
On paper, Godleman, Madsen, du Plooy and Reece look good, but they have to deliver at the crease. Micky said to Dave Fletcher on Friday evening that Lords looked a good batting wicket. Yet none of the four mentioned got to fifty (just like last season). Masood sailed to his 91.
It’s only out first game, so I don’t want to appear pessimistic. But if Middx give us a run chase tomorrow, then our top order have to fire. It can’t just be left to Masood.
These first three days just shows the amount of work that Mickey Arthur has to do with this Derbyshire squad. I know it's only the first game but we still look well short especially in the bowling department. Another seamer will have to be brought in unless any of the injured lads are due to return soon, we are not bowling sides out with this current lot.
ReplyDeleteWe should get a draw out of this, and let's hope for better against Sussex