Worcestershire 368 and 59-1 (Lakmal 1-19)
Derbyshire 565-8 (Dal 114*, Du Plooy 62, Thomson 54, Reece 42, Sidebottom 31*)
Derbyshire lead by 138 runs
With Worcestershire having to bat for 96 overs - or whatever the weather allows - and simply not yet out, we may need dynamite to dislodge them from a wicket that batsmen would likely carry around in their kit bag.
Derbyshire batted well down the order, with all ten making double figures, Anuj Dal making a career-best century and even Ryan Sidebottom contributing a career-best on one leg.
Dal batted splendidly, full of bustle and wristy strokes. Alex Thomson also played a fine innings after Reece and du Plooy gave early impetus.
197 runs on, Derbyshire would have hoped to see the odd ball misbehave, but little passed the bat all day and although Lakmal dismissed Pollock, who seemed to be netting for the T20, it will be a hard day's graft tomorrow, especially with only four front line bowlers.
I can't see any option bar a draw, unless more cloud cover offers the bowlers more than they have had all match.
Last season I would have agreed about a draw looking inevitable. But we now have a team growing in confidence by the game. So I wouldn’t rule out us winning.
ReplyDeleteLast season I wouldn’t have ruled out a defeat :)
DeleteOh yeah, don't get me wrong, we are playing good cricket. But I would love to see this team play on wickets that offered a more level playing field for batters and bowlers alike.
DeleteThe T20 will be interesting!
Another excellent batting g display but with a bowler short I can't see us getting Worcs out again. Is Sidebottom injury prone?
DeleteSomeone has to do something special tomorrow. Not out of the question, but in light of what has gone before, unlikely..
DeleteIt really is disappointing that the wicket is so good for batting at the County ground, that you just can't see many positive results happening this season. Another draw coming up here which would suggest improvement, but it's all a bit dull really
ReplyDeleteMuggy, overcast with a couple of showers here and there to affect the batsman’s concentration? Any chance this weather could give us the best chance of pulling off a win today?
ReplyDeleteMuggy works well! 300 miles away I don't know what it is like there, but our three seamers will fancy such conditions. Sam Conners will, for sure..
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