Worcestershire 326-5 (Haynes 133, Azhar 85, Sidebottom 2-76)
v Derbyshire
There seemed a loss of intensity in the late morning and through the afternoon, perhaps the first time I have seen that this summer.
To their credit, they fought back with another three wickets in the final session, one of them a sensational grab from Anuj Dal. It just about got them back into the game, but they will hope for early wickets tomorrow and to keep the score to not too much over 400.
Sidebottom took two wickets but all three seamers were off the pace, for me. Control came from Anuj Dal and Alex Thomson but Haynes and Azhar batted very well and were largely untroubled in adding 187 for the third wicket.
There was a little green at the start of the day and that likely influenced the decision to bowl first, but too often the ball was in the wrong areas, even from the usually reliable Lakmal.
Not a vintage day, then, but the fight in the final session was still good to see.
Lets hope for more tomorrow, then bat for a long time.
I thought we were decent (but Sam Connors has to get a grip: it will come.) Hopefully, we'll skittle out Worc in the first session tomorrow, and then bat with aggression.
ReplyDeleteWhilst choosing to bowl first will have surprised many I think the reason to do so was that we have a better chance of chasing in the 4th innings than we have of bowling out Worcestershire. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteCome on guys, you probably know much more about cricket than myself but you aren't winning cricket matches if a team posts 400 plus runs in their first innings. Awful decision to put Worcs in to bat
ReplyDeleteThey would have expected more wickets, but perhaps also see that a chance of a win best depends on a last afternoon chase. The wickets aren't deteriorating, so we'll see!
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