Derbyshire v Worcestershire day one

Derbyshire 300-8 (Madsen 87, Godleman 70, Chappell 40* Waite 3-43)

v Worcestershire 

It was very considerate, after a long winter, for Derbyshire to put on what was effectively a highlights reel for supporters in the first session of the new season.

While the overnight rain prevented play until 2pm, the home side played purposeful, attacking cricket to reach 156-3 in the 29 overs before tea was taken. Suffice to say that yours truly has watched many a Derbyshire side that failed to score that many by tea time, even when they started at eleven. 

It was heady stuff. Debutant Haider Ali and a revitalised Billy Godleman brought up the half century in the seventh over, both capitalising on bowling that lacked both line and length. The young Pakistan player showed his class in a too brief innings, which ended with a stroke unworthy of the talent shown before it.

Meanwhile, Godleman played in the aggressive style that is often much more effective for him, twice sashaying down the wicket to hit Leach into the stand. A third six over square leg looked like the stroke of a returning hero and his innings was only ended by a fine catch at mid wicket. It was nice to see Billball baggin' a half century first up. No longer captain, but perhaps Lord of the inner ring?

Brooke Guest, like Ali, played on, but Madsen came in and resumed in his form of 2022, as if winter had been a mere tea interval. Even now, there are few on the circuit you would sooner watch than Wayne in fine touch. 

It was a different proposition after tea. The Worcestershire bowlers found better lengths and the ball moved around more, with the odd one keeping low. Run scoring was more at the rate we have come to expect from 4 day cricket, but the Derbyshire score went past 200. du Plooy wasn't in prime form, but the early sighting of Matt Lamb was very positive. 

Waite returned to the field after treatment for an injury to eventually remove Madsen for an excellent 87. It was a deserved wicket for the best bowler of the away side and when Lamb was run out by a direct hit and Dal well caught at slip, The innings look to be in decline.

Yet Chappell and Aitchison launched another counter attack that took the score passed 300 before the close. I don't know about anyone else, but that was considerably higher than I expected when Derbyshire lost the toss today. 

I had written in the winter that Chappell can bat and have previously asserted that Aitchison has it in him to become a bowling all rounder. Both did a fine job for their side, the former Nottinghamshire man striking some fearsome blows, including a somewhat remarkable six, one-handed, over mid wicket.

In short? An exhilarating day's cricket. If this is the way we are going to approach things this year, there's going to be some memorable entertainment.

I'm looking forward to seeing how our seam bowlers get on tomorrow...