Lancashire 221-4 (Croft 87*, Jones 70*, Thomson 3-25)
Derbyshire 182 (Masood 82, McKiernan 27, Williams 4-20, Hurt 2-27)
Lancashire won by 39 runs
The bowling did well on a slow, but two-paced pitch where no one looked comfortable and fluent. Alex Thomson took three wickets to reduce the home side to 67-4, but after five overs in which he took 3-25 wasn't asked to bowl again, as Steven Croft and Rob Jones added an excellent 154 runs. Even the normally bucolic Croft was circumspect, while Jones hit only one boundary in his valuable and hard-worked half century.
He later fielded brilliantly in the covers, but Derbyshire's bowlers did well in that first innings and were backed up in the field. Watt bowled cannily and Conners wasn't far behind in a good display.
Yet the feeling remained that we may struggle to score as Lancashire did, which made our gifting the first three wickets especially galling.
I didn't understand Masood not opening, but Reece started well before giving it away with a totally unnecessary shot when the required rate was less than 4.5 an over. Then Godleman played an awful shot that confirmed his lack of form, before Came was strangled down the leg side. It was another poor start and left a mountain to climb.
Masood again batted very well indeed, but needed greater support than the rest were able to offer. Guest, Dal, McKiernan and Watt all contributed, but none lent the level of support that Jones did for Croft.
There was just a glimmer while the in-form McKiernan helped add 48 in 12 overs and the required rate was never really a problem, but someone needed to get forty-odd and no one did. I thought McKiernan, like Watt after him, got a questionable decision from an umpire who had a poor day.
Masood's fine effort ended with an excellent catch, appropriately, by that man Jones in the deep and Derbyshire were left to wonder what might have been.
As an aside, I thought Liam Hurt bowled well today, better than he did in his short stint for us, as did the young slow left armer, Morley. The latter's exaggerated appealing was both unnecessary and irksome, howeverand I was as unconvinced by his dismissal of Watt as the batsman was himself.
We could, with a lot more savvy in the top order, have won this one.
Am opportunity missed.
Sadly I actually think Billy is coming to the end. His batting style is woefully vulnerable and he cannot put anything of worth together at the moment. We cannot win games if the top order collapses like a pack of cards and this seems to be happening too often.
ReplyDeleteWe could have won this game if someone else other than Masood had posted a decent score. In the end, he was left with no alternative to hit out, which isn't his natural way of playing. ONce again, McKiernan performed well with the bat.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shaun's remarks about Billy. We can't afford to have a player opening the batting who is in such poor form. He did briefly sparkle against Essex, but in three Royal London innings he's scored just 37 runs. That's an average of just over 12. His CC average is 15.
Reece is also a concern. He played a couple of lovely shots today, but was out cheaply. HIs three Royal London games have yielded 70 runs. Better than Billy, but just over 23 is still a low average for a top four batsman. He has only passed 50 once in both the CC and T20.
To get promotion or to progress in the Royal London, our top order batting has to fire consistently. We can't leave it all to Masood. Yet, as I've said before, we don't have many options. Just Came and Wood. There might be a case made for McKiernan to bat higher, as he's scored 142 runs at 71.
Back down to earth with a bump after our fine win over Essex. Another batting master class by Masood but no-one seemed capable of staying with him for any length of time. It does seem strange that Thomson,having taken 3 wickets, was not given another stint. Not only is Billy's form with the bat deserting him, some of his captaincy decisions have seemed questionable recently. Time to change the man at the helm?
ReplyDeleteI was at the match today on what was a lovely warm sunny day to spend at the cricket.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that the demoted cup no longer gets big attendances, with only two stands open today, and neither of those massively full.
As you mentioned the slow pace of the wicket meant that the cricket was quite old fashioned with low run rates and very few boundaries struck. For some reason there wasn't even any audible cheers from the other Old Trafford up the road to disturb the general soporific effect.
I was pleased with our efforts in the field, it was just that Croft and Jones were able to deal well with what was good, accurate bowling.
You may recall that I called for Reece and Godleman to continue opening, despite Masoods return, so I certainly wont criticise that now. I also understand Reece, in what appeared to be a planned approach, trying to get well ahead of the bowling rate. It was high risk, and didnt work out, but if we had got to 50 odd after the first 6 or 7 overs whilst the fielding restrictions were in place, we would have been well on our way.
Masood is of course, and showed again, that he is head and shoulders above any other of our batters, especially with Madsen and Du Plooy elsewhere. He just needed someone to stay with him. All of Guest, Dal and McKiernan looked like they might do it, but none could.
If I have any criticism it is that Masood was scoring at just over 4 an over throughout, which meant that pressure increased on his partners to keep up with the rate. If he had been able to get up to around 6 an over himself it would have given his partners more leeway to just keep him company rather than pushing for runs themselves.
That is being very critical though, it really is a delight and privilege to watch him in Derbyshire colours.
I was surprised too that Masood didn't open. Billy's innings was a clear sign to me that unfortunately he won't turn this around. His shot, on the ball he got out to, was akin to a number 11 roped in for a village game.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point about Masood scoring at just over 4 an over, David exiled in Lincs, but he needed someone at the other end to score some runs. His job was to remain in, nudging singles and twos, to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and others to score more rapidly, thus releasing the pressure on him, and the n get out, having hit 30 or more.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, we have a top order problem. Our top five managed only 26 against Glamorgan and, if you take out Masood's contribution, 50 against Lancs. Hopefully Mickey can sort this out and reset for Friday.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments re the demise of this once great trophy. Not sure why Lancs don't play these games at Aigburth or any other out ground. Surely playing in front of a 3,000 full house is better for all concernced, rather than in front of a similar number at a soporific, and deserted looking Old Trafford.
ReplyDeleteDerbyshire would have won this if Wayne was there. Luis is out of sorts, there's enough on Billy elswhere, Shen oozes class and nobody
else stayed with him quite long enough.
Enjoyed the game overall though, we are still a far better outfit than last season
Dave
Wirral
A Lancs fan here, always enjoy your blog as you're fair-minded and partisan in the right way if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteHave a suspicion Rob Jones might be a little surplus to requirements at OT, although a more whole-hearted and professional team member you'd struggle to find. He's never quite kicked on with the bat for us ( a common problem at OT, he says, looking ruefully at the strides Luis Reece and Brooke Guest have made since joining Derbyshire) although his average suffers because he's the lad who always puts his hand up whenever we have a problem needs solving. No opener? Jonesy will do it. Need to score a rapid 25 to set a total. Jonesy will do it etc etc. I think he'd be a great fit for Derbyshire and there might be a deal to be done.
Thanks for the kind words! Yes, I like him and he seems a decent, organised player to me. Certainly a bloke who will get his head down and on the basis of that game a terrific fielder.
DeleteLancs is a good hunting ground for us, so fingers crossed!
I see Harry Finch who has scored some decent runs in our 2nd X1 has signed for Kent for the 50 over competition. Any idea if we still retain any interest in signing him ? I was very surprised when Sussex released him.
ReplyDeleteHe was on trial, but for me the RLODC is important for MA to get an idea of the merits of Wood and Came rather than a lad on a short term deal. They will have seen enough in the 2s to form an opinion
DeleteMy query was in regard to signing him for next season. Agreed we don't need him for the current season 👍
DeleteIf we are signing a batter in the, winter, for me someone more established is a need. Perhaps an opener.. We will see
Delete