Derbyshire 321 and 269-6 (Godleman 86, Ali 65, du Plooy 52*)
Worcestershire 473 (Waite 109*, Waite 89, Chappell 5-69, Conners 3-104)
Derbyshire lead by 117 runs
There is still hope, with skipper Leus du Plooy and Zak Chappell at the crease, but one would think a minimum lead of 200 would be required and that may be a bridge too far.
With the exception of Chappell, we have bowled poorly in this game. The lack of pre-season match action, because of the weather, has left most of the bowlers looking ring rusty and lacking in rhythm. To concede sixty runs as extras is frankly ridiculous and unacceptable at this level and I would expect an improvement in time for the next match.
Chappell was the exception, bowling with hostility and greater control than his team mates. With two good innings in this game, he already looks a very sound winter acquisition.
Matthew Waite lived up to my advance billing last night with an excellent maiden first class century for the visitors. He got good support from the tail, but the sight of du Plooy and Lamb bowling 'occasional' spin confirmed a wrong team selection.
Ali and Godleman led off in fine style and almost wiped out the arrears. There is a touch of the former Pakistan stylist, Majid Khan, in the batting of Ali, who manages to combine grace and power in his game. The former skipper again batted very well and his positive intent augurs well for the season.
Yet with the exception of du Plooy, no one else got going. Guest failed for the second time in the match, although he got a good ball, Madsen and Lamb got in then got out, while the demeanour of the genial Dal on being given out suggested he had hit the ball when given leg before.
The skipper batted sensibly and well, while Chappell showed himself to have an uncomplicated technique.
He should have gone before the close, Libby dropping a skier. Will that come back to bite Worcestershire?
We have some way to go before they will be unduly worried. Hopefully we see the Mickey. Arthur patented fighting spirit tomorrow..
Agreed bowling has been 'rusty'. But the pre season excuses this somewhat. It will improve - MA will make sure of that.
ReplyDeleteI reckon this is 50/50 going into the last day. Chasing 175 + last dig is never easy Steve.
Convinced we have a strong side in the making here.
Dave
Wirral
There have been positives in this match - in particular Billy Godleman's batting and the all round contributions of Chappell. Too many players though have appeared not quite fully ready for the off.
ReplyDeleteAs you say to concede 60 extras in one innings is unforgivable, especially 26 runs from 13 no balls.
I sincerely hope he proves me wrong but I have yet to be convinced by Suranga Lakmal in a Derbyshire shirt. Over last season and this opener he has taken 16 wickets in 238 overs, a wicket every 15 overs. Even given last seasons batsman friendly wickets you would want and expect your premier overseas star to do considerably better than that. I admit to having seen relatively little of his Derbyshire bowling, but from what I have seen he doesn't seem to be really bending his back. If he his trying to bowl within himself then conceding at 3 an over is also not good enough.
Sorry to be critical so early in the season, but the likely loss in this match, if and when it comes tomorrow, against a team not tipped to be title challengers, already puts a big hole in our promotion prospects.
Hope I'm being pessimistic and a big century for Leus tomorrow digs us out of the hole.
The "plan" in the morning session was pretty mindless. Endless balls banged in way short of halfway and never really threatening the wickets. Didn't expect to be watching a 7-2 legside field and bowlers just banging it in at 9, 10, Jack. Although the test side do this too and it's mindless then too The only semblance of control was when du Plooy and Lamb were bowling their occasional spin.
ReplyDeleteHaider Ali and Billy batted well but the ball passed the outside edge a good few times.
Lots to work on and Lakmal doesn't look like the wicket machine we expected. Seems quite innocuous so far for an international bowler of pedigree. Hope he proves me wrong. Neil - Sheffield
Didn’t get to see today’s play, but each Derbyshire wicket was bowled or lbw. Surprised at this after watching little movement from our bowlers on day 2.
ReplyDeleteCraig
Poor poor days cricket by Derbyshire and we are heading for a disappointing opening defeat to a pretty bang average county. The bowling bar Chappel was rubbish, I want to see either Watt or Thomson start the next game and Scrimshaw to replace Lakmal. A 200 plus lead and we might make a fist of it, anything less and Worcs will knock them off comfortably
ReplyDeleteNot only were the 60 extras in themselves costly, but the 13th no ball, bowled by Lakmal, resulted in the 'wicket' of Gibbon. I believe the last pair then added another 77 runs. That could be the difference between winning or losing this game.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we can perhaps put some of this down to the lack of pre season preparation, I'm assuming Worcestershire didn't have any more luck with the weather pre season, and they gifted us the grand total of 4 extras in our first innings, with just the one no ball. No excuses.
I have to say I too share a bit of concern regarding Lakmal. MA talks about him being the 'leader' of our attack but at the moment he looks anything but. As mentioned, this is in addition to his less than inspiring performances last season. We need more from him for sure.
We're still in with a slim chance in this game, but with no real signs of this pitch offering that much for the bowlers it would appear Worcestershire will clinch victory sometime tomorrow afternoon. On the evidence of the first 3 days, it would be deserved.
I hope he'll prove me wrong but I fear Lakmal is shaping up into an awful signing. Can't blame him for the injury last year but he's looked just as unthreatening over the last few days as he did when fit early last season.
ReplyDeleteI'd look to Scrimshaw personally who has that extra pace and is hungry. Conners and Aitchison are good players for us and will come good and Chappell looks a superb signing with bat and ball on early viewing. The amount of extras conceded is terrible and would expect an immediate tightening of that.
Lots of talking points about the match but what occurs to me is that hopefully the failure in both innings of Guest and Dal - both star performers last year- is just an unfortunate coincidence. As for conceding 60 extras- I hope MA has a stern talking to at least some of our bowlers!
ReplyDeleteThe mark of a good side is the ability to react strongly to a bad day. The margins in this game means we could do that and still lose, but it's important to see that response today whatever the result. I agree with the thoughts about Lakmal's performances so far but 7-40 today and I will happily change my view. He's due, for sure. Otherwise, I think he has to make way for Watt at Leicester.
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