Derbyshire 246-9 (Guest 82, Dal 42, Came 33, Hughes 31, Barker 2-34
Hampshire 247-8 (Albert 85*, Middleton 64, Aitchison 4-39)
Hampshire won by two wickets
Derbyshire started well, but a too-familiar, collapse saw a decline from 49-0 to 58-4. An equally familiar recovery came from Messrs Guest and Dal and I seem to have spent most of this summer watching either those two or Madsen/Masood bat together.
The techniques of both were good, but the fitness levels admirable in searing heat. The running between the wickets was exceptional until even Dal's pace underestimated the accuracy of the fielders throw.
Alex Hughes played a nice cameo but Guest was again on a very high plain of batsmanship. I would argue that in all formats he is perhaps batsman of the season, especially when one considers he has played every match. He is a very good cricketer, on his way to becoming indispensable, his fitness levels remarkable.
Despite those efforts 246 didn't look enough on a good day, good track and with bowlers having to toil in the sun.
Ben Aitchison changed the game with a superb opening burst that removed a strong visiting top order. His new run up suits him, much as conditions seemed to. With late movement and good assistance from the field, Hampshire were 36-4 in the ninth over. For all that Sam Conners and George Scrimshaw are excellent bowlers, Ben is for me the best prospect of the lot and he looked it today.
When Organ went to an awful shot from an even worse ball, the visitors were 68-5 and the game looked won. Yet just as happened earlier, a century stand from this time Middleston and Albert turned the game on it head.
Although Middleton was out to a ball from McKiernan that he could have hit anywhere but did straight to Dal at midwicket, Albert had the nous, composure and skill to see them over the line, while our backup bowling wasn't up to the standard of the admirable Aitchison. The latter slightly blotted his copybook with a late drop at slip that **might** have changed the result, but the visitors deserved their win and the retention of their unbeaten record in the competition.
While three defeats from four matches doesn't signal the end of Derbyshire interest in this competition, it makes it unlikely. We can't afford to lose any more and the vagaries of a misfiring top order hurt us again today. Certainly a Masood duck wasn't in my plans as I drove down and once again the late order were left too much to do.
To close, thank you to those whose company and chat made today a pleasure, regardless of the result.
You know who you are..
What was the issue with a couple of the Hants batters loitering at the crease long after being out without any doubt? Organ was I think one, forget the other.
ReplyDeleteThere has been much to like about Derbyshire’s cricket this year and they have certainly been competitive in all formats. Looking at the squad however, I think if we go into next season with the same plus Chappel, we can’t expect any significant difference results wise. Sadly, I guess we might need to look for alternatives to players that we have come to cherish at Derbyshire and who put in performances, but not frequently or significantly enough.
ReplyDeleteCraig
I agree, Steve, Guest is having an outstanding season. But, once again, our top order didn't fire, and it was left to Guest, Dal, McKiernan and Hughes to pit runs on the board. Brilliant opening spell by Aitchison. A disappointing result.
ReplyDeleteIs Masood returning next year? IMO Derbyshire need an upgrade yes he scored a lot of runs at the beginning of the season on what were flat pitches against some friendly bowling,how many games has he actually won for Derbyshire this season, I appreciate that he's in a difficult situation I get the impression he's afraid to completely release the handbrake when batting because Madsen and Guest apart the rest of the batting is so unreliable,
ReplyDeleteThis is an unusual comment. Genuinely when I watched Masood earlier in the season he is the best Derbyshire batsmen I’ve ever seen. There are areas to strengthen, for sure. I’d take Masood for another year without a second thought.
DeleteAlso, watched Chappell bowl and bat on Wednesday. He looks v good.
Nathan, Bristol.
You think we need up upgrade Masood or the ones around him?
DeleteCraig
Not sure how many upgrades there are on a bloke who has scored runs as he has. And how many of those would come at a rate we could afford. Personally would offer him a 2/3 year deal on condition he retired from the international game for that period
DeleteIf we are looking for an upgrade on Masood then we have a very short shortlist to work through!
DeleteTo be clear, best upgrade would be getting Masood on 2-3yr deal. Opportunity for some strengthening around him.
DeleteNathan, Bristol
How anyone who has watched Derbyshire this season can suggest we need an upgrade on Shan beggars belief. He offers so much more than just the runs he scores. He is a real role model for our younger players.
DeleteTo have lost a game that we might have, at one point, looked well set to win, after having looked in trouble at 60-odd for 4, it somewhat annoying. Given the spirit and fight we’ve shown at times this season.
ReplyDeleteWe were, ideally, at least twenty runs light, which might have been too much for the visitors.
Their key partnership was, I gather, a couple of twenty year olds, each notching their highest List-A score.
Craig, above; I begrudgingly agree.
Apologies.
ReplyDeleteOmitted to add my name. Matt.
Ps. Have we lost the toss in each of these 50ov matches? Can we apportion any blame to that for our standing in the group?
I think the Glamorgan game was decided by the toss. The other two we didn't bat well enough
DeleteNot sure I agree with the comments about Masood and like you would welcome him back next year. He's truly been messed around by the call up to the Pakistan squad and it would be a great benefit to Derbyshire if he retired from international cricket.
DeleteSurprised that no one has mentioned the 22 extras we gifted - although 6 were leg byes they would probably have been called leg side wides anyway. Add to these the runs scored from free-hit no balls. In all they probably cost us the game.
Paul [Derbyshire supporter in Hampshire].
In what way has Masood been messed around by the selectors? He has a very modest test record despite being given two good runs in the side, he doesn't have an outstanding f-c record (his average is almost twenty runs below Fawad Alam's for example), and he's the reserve opener behind a player who's just had a fantastic series against currently the top team in the world and probably the world's best young batting prospect.
DeleteLike any test reserve, that means he goes on tours where he doesn't play much. But that isn't messing around, it's having a squad! he's no more messed around by the selectors that I can see than, say, Craig Overton.
Dave
Conners' figures for England Lions v SA yesterday- 9.4-4-25-4. Let's hope he can reproduce that form when he's back playing for us.
ReplyDeleteHe joined in the 2nd innings rout after struggling in first innings, but 3 of the wickets were 9, 10 and jack who were swinging...
DeleteTim
I take it you've passed comment without viewing the footage. None of the batsmen were swinging for the four wickets. One was strangled down the legside, the other three wickets as a result of good deliveries.
DeleteMatter of opinion. I did. They were 9 10 and 11 at the fag end of a rout. If you want to play that up as more than it is so be it. Just putting much needed perspective and not pressure a good young bowler with unrealistic expectations.
DeleteRickelton was a good wicket to get.
Tim
You are right I like to see things from a more positive angle than you. There are no "unrealistic expectations" with Sam. Mickey Arthur rates him highly, as do the England selectors apparently as they picked him. Also as South Africa were playing 13 men, in reality 9, 10 and 11 were better than that and they all have decent career batting averages.
DeleteWe're depleted at the minute, yes other counties are the same I know but they can handle losing 3-4 players to the nonsense hundred, we can't.
ReplyDeleteChanges have to be made with the current squad at the end of the season, Chappell is a good start but let's not stop there, we need another quality seamer and a top order batsman. Out could go Billy with question marks now hanging over Luis and Leus futures, they are both regressing at an alarming rate.
I also think Cohen will be released
Be very surprised if Reece was released with a year on his contract. And if a full winter of work returns him to his best, yesterday showed how good that can be. It is just defining what his role in the team is.
DeleteBut I agree Cohen looks likely to go. Sad, because there is talent there but too poor an injury record
MA will have his thoughts clear in his mind now as to who is to be released. Cohen and Godleman for me. Two, maybe three new players with proven success will transform this side even further and, although its been said many times before by some, I am optimistic for next season. Dal, McKiernan, Thompson have been such terrific contributors and personally I believe Aitchison is a top bowler. This season has taught us supporters an awful lot. Lets give credit for the improvement and remain very positive.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Cohen and Godleman--but not about Thomson. If Derbys are serious about challenging for division 1 then, hard as he's tried, they need a more penetrative front-line red-ball spinner. It's a tough call, but I would be after Amar Virdi or (if they're allowed to talk to him) Rehan Ahmed if I was MA--and realistically to get him (or an equivalent) you need to release Thomson.
DeleteAnd talking about players of proven success--that doesn't mean Ben Mike, who I can't see is better than any of Dal, Reece or Hughes...although (tough call again as it would be) there might be a case for releasing Hughes to get a better specialist batter to be the eventual (or not so eventual, given that he's 39 next year!) replacement for Madsen.
Dave
Agreed on that!
DeleteAnd right on cue Luis produces 136 runs. Maybe he is worth keeping still, lol
ReplyDelete