Leicestershire 122
Derbyshire 326-7 (du Plooy 94, Madsen 67, Mulder 5-55)
There may have been a temptation to try and push it along more than they did, with the forecast for tomorrow being far from encouraging. However, there was more play today than was suggested by the Met Office and the skies above, and tomorrow may not be as bad as currently projected, for all we know.
Either way, by the close of play Derbyshire had reached a lead of 204 and should no cricket be possible tomorrow, they will be able to declare early on Sunday, in the hope of bowling out the visitors in the final innings.
Today they were indebted to Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy, who shared a partnership of common sense and sound judgement. They kept pace with one another well, until Madsen was dismissed after his 111th score of 50 or more for the county, an astonishing record.
du Plooy looked set for a century, but was dismissed for 94 soon after another restart. Lamb never really got going, but enabled the lead to grow, while Leicestershire were able to keep their senior bowlers on for longer than might otherwise have been the case, by the rain stoppages. They were not helped by some poor catching, a couple of relatively easy ones at this level being put down that would have made a difference.
Mulder bowled very well for them and is an excellent cricketer, just the sort you want as an overseas professional.
Derbyshire will have been encouraged by the ball continuing to move around all day, especially in the final session, when Mulder bowled very well. Similar assistance would be appreciated on the final day and if Derbyshire bowl as well as the South African did, a win is not yet out of the question in this match.
A sound batting display, Wayne being badly dropped at second slip early on. We now have thirteen half centuries but no three figure score which I imagine will be a talking point in the changing room. Mulder aside the Leicestershire attack wasn't great, Rehan Ahmed being very loose.
ReplyDeleteA good day, certainly. I would aim for the 3rd batting point in the first half- hour or so tomorrow then get Leicetershire in. Whatever the rain situation, tomorrow is likely to be a good bowling day. Evidence from tonight's last session suggests there's still plenty in it for Brookes, Reece et al, and a lead of 230-240 should be a winning one, providing Sunday's optimistic forecast holds.
ReplyDeleteForecast for tomorrow looks much better than it did, hopefully there should be at least a few hours play possible.
ReplyDeleteOverall, a good day...but at no point did we attack and try and pile on the runs, when we had the perfect opportunity to do this. Madsen and du Plooy batted with restraint, as did those who followed. We never reached four runs an over after the first few overs. This surprised me, as Mickey has spoken about being more aggressive.
ReplyDeleteIn view of our performances prior to this match let us be thankful for the position that we actually ARE in at the start of Day 3. Yes, the run rate was slow but we have seen a better , mor professional,attitude and approach. Ihope we can win it from here and well done Henry Brooks......a big filip for DCCC and your own career.
ReplyDeleteThe facilities for both members and particularly the paying public at the county ground are nothing short of abysmal compared to what they were twenty or thirty years ago, what used to be the tea bar is currently closed while the construction of a new toilet block is being built leaving just a small kiosk in front of the indoor school as the only refreshment outlet for non members meanwhile members are being charged £2.70 for a plain white coffee upstairs in the members bar providing you provide your own cup this is extortionate, compare this to what counties such as Leicestershire provide is night and day , speaking to other members there is a feeling of disconnection between members and the management board a feeling that members and the paying public are nothing more than customers to be rinsed as much as possible
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