Derbyshire v Durham day 1

Derbyshire 306 all out (du Plooy 82, Came 78, Dal 52, Rushworth 3-60, Raine 3-61)

v Durham

I don't think that Derbyshire will be at all disappointed with their first day's work at Derby today.

To be honest, I feared the worst when we lost the toss and had to face the not inconsiderable talents of Rushworth and Raine on a lively track.

We were soon in trouble with the first three wickets back in the pavilion with unseemly haste. It was the partnership between Guest and du Plooy that restored a little equilibrium, but when Guest departed the advent of Came saw a stand that may yet prove to be match-defining.

Their stand of 143 runs was outstanding, on a wicket where there was variable pace and bounce all day. From the City End several balls kept very low later in the day and Derbyshire will be very pleased to have 300 runs on the board to work with.

Neither batsman made it to three figures, but on a perfect wicket for a game that we really need to win, that was not a surprise. But both were very impressive and while we know the talents of du Plooy, Came has shown in recent weeks that he just might have the makings of a batsman of real talent at this level.

He has become much better in his judgement of the balls to leave, much better in giving the bad ball the treatment, much tighter in defence. I could see him kicking on next season and becoming the latest to respond to the excellent coaching at the club.

There is certainly assistance for the seam bowlers and I think Mark Watt will enjoy bowling on here too. While we don't know how much play will be possible over the next 3 days, Derbyshire have given themselves every opportunity to force a win in their efforts today.

The late resistance from Dal took us to a position of prosperity from the earlier travails and the first session tomorrow promises to be very interesting indeed.

A good days cricket for sure.

Postscript: there were 86 runs for Tom Wood in the second eleven today as they posted 326-7 against Middlesex at Denby.

There were also half centuries for Alex Hughes and Alex Thomson, while an interesting trialist was George Hargrave, who has been so prolific for Shropshire and Oxford University in the past two years.

He made 72 and it is good to see Derbyshire offering an opportunity to an undoubtedly talented young player. It is down to him what he makes of it and of course if he wants a professional cricket career.

But that is an impressive effort and it may be one worth keeping an eye on, after his excellent half century against us in a friendly match a few weeks ago.