Derbyshire 178 (Du Plooy 51, Madsen 40, Ball 4-40)
Nottinghamshire 182-3 (Hales 91, Scrimshaw 2-35)
Nottinghamshire won by 7 wickets
Hales teed off at pretty much everything, had a few lucky breaks, but played an innings of stunning power. Although Derbyshire fought back well after his dismissal, it was too late.
A late innings collapse left us around 20 short of what we looked like getting as Nottinghamshire fielded well. The last eight wickets fumbled with unseemly haste in 20 balls and our total never seemed enough on a good batting track.
The top four batted well, but they never got away fully. Nor was the bowling bad, but there are times you have to give credit to a man at the top of his game.
The spinners were again tidy and Scrimshaw bowled well, but I am not convinced that this format suits Sam Conners, who took serious stick tonight. There is no like for like option, but I think that Hughes or Dal coming in might improve the depth of batting and bowling.
We move on. There was no disgrace in losing to an innings such as that.
When you are up against someone as explosive as Hales, then you need to have a plan with your bowlers. We had nothing to respond to him. Our early batsmen did a decent job - but we lost 7 wickets in the last three overs, so never got to 200 or above. That's poor. I don't think Mickey Arthur will be pleased with tonight's performance.
ReplyDeleteThe side desperately needs another bowling option, it's hard to think of many other T20 teams that field only 5 bowlers with just an occasional off spinner as an alternative. Hughes or Dal should come in for Came, who despite having potential has been largely unremarkable in his T20 career so far. The other or Cohen can also replace Conners if needed.
ReplyDeletePoor performance, let's not beat around the bush here we were well beaten. Our bowling in this format just doesn't do it for me conners in particular looks the weak link. We're still short against the best teams In this format and that is no disgrace, Derbyshire forever
ReplyDeleteGary
ReplyDeleteI personally thought it was off par performance. If we judging by last years standard it was a good effort but times changed and standards have changed. They didn’t bat well enough after the power play 6 overs for 35 runs is criminal for position we was in. Madsen got very bogged down and struggled to get 2s as Nottinghamshire fielding last night was masterclass. I do think that phase play prevented getting 190-200 and added lot more pressure. I personally put both Hughes and Dal. I believe long term Connors is red ball player. I think would take out Came if he not opening as he luxury at 6. That not because of his performance. Think all teams lacking any major consistency and can only see Lancashire pulling away. It’s great group shame the competition not getting much publicity because of ECB agenda.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous 4 comments and my only contribution is to repeat a description of our batting written many years ago by a journalist called Henry Bevington : "Connoisseurs of Derbyshire batting collapses would today have witnessed a vintage specimen."
ReplyDeleteI would be loathe to be too critical. Four of our main five bowlers have relatively little experience of T20, certainly compared to the likes of Notts. When a batter of Hales calibre decides to play a big shot to every delivery, it is very difficult. Personally I would bring in Alex Hughes as, to my mind, he is a T20 specialist and has never let us down in this format.
ReplyDeleteThe Sky commentators are certainly talking up George Scrimshaw. I just wonder if he might be our next England international. Potentially, I feel he could perform the role that Liam Plunkett did so successfully in the limited overs game.
I do think people go overboard regardless of results. Win and we are world beaters. Lose and the knifes are out for players. Let’s not forget we are still Derbyshire. We don’t have the resources to compete with Notts on a regular basis. Their team is filled with international experience. They played well tonight and it was just too good for us. Fact. Hales goes at every ball because he can with that batting line up behind him. He will do that to far better bowling attacks than ours. We have to bat more circumspectly. The batting is doing pretty well all told. We are short of a power play bowler. Sam does not have the experience yet. Hughes and Dal can’t bowl in the power play either. They’d go miles. The only option for me would be try and fiddle 3 overs if spin and bring Yoz in for the middle overs. He is a good pace off bowler and our leading wicket taker in this format. Cane would have to make way which is harsh but it’s about trying to balance the resources. Supporters need to show patience.
ReplyDeleteWe have a team that is performing far better than last year. It’s still a work in process but early signs for me are encouraging. Hales was the difference tonight. That can happen in T20. We dust ourselves off and go again Tuesday.
Northants are more than beatable and I expect a good contest with us coming out on top.
John W - Thankyou. You saved my typing time.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with all that. Hales was a class apart last night.
We are a work in progress. MA is a breath of fresh air to the team and club.
Andy
I know First Class is way WAY different, but someone who can bowl yorker after yorker might help? Slower balls, back of the hand balls, hitting the wide line on the offside are all skills to be applauded, but are they any better than someone hitting the crease line 6 in 6?
ReplyDeleteI'm not necessarily saying we lack those skills, or have them. I'm just saying that new thinking isn't always the best thinking!
Though yorkers still have a place in T20 cricket, modern batsmen are too good at ramp shots for the old tactic of bowling 6 yorkers to be viable.
DeleteHad to miss the game last night due to Covid so watched on Sky. Some interesting observations by the pundits, first of which is the high quality of the track at Derby. Hence from what we are seeing that par score against the big 4 teams in the group is 200. I would argue it is 30 runs less for the other teams.with that said, it feels like it is very important for us to field first and chase.
ReplyDeleteIf Hales had repeated his performance last night batting first I shudder to think what we would be chasing. Regardless it would have been too many.So looking at our bowling unit I have been underwhelmed so far by Kerr and Watt not looking any better than Reece and Mckiernan respectively. Scrimshaw however looks a real prospect.
In terms of batting I'd say not much wrong but in truth 200 is top of the range for this line up and instead I think we need to try and work out some bowling options.
With T20 it can quickly turn around and an early departure for Hales yesterday may have resulted in a very different outcome. Lots of shots seemed to just avoid fielders last night and these are the small margins
Hales was on fire. At one point (I think 87* off 26 balls or something) he was three well chosen blows away from beating Chris Gayle’s world record.
DeleteThat said, Watt apart, there was a lack of variation within an over.
Bowlers win matches. We may scrape 4th and I hope we do but beyond that will need a leap of faith.