Derbyshire v. Yorkshire day 2

Derbyshire 111 and 248-4 (Ali 129*, du Plooy 96*)

Yorkshire 353 (Malan 106, Watt 5-83)

Derbyshire lead by six runs

What an extraordinary day of cricket.

Half an hour into the afternoon session, with Derbyshire facing further embarrassment at 17-4 in their second innings, I was mentally preparing this blog with a view to the game being over tonight. 

Only one man, at that point, had emerged from the game in credit on the Derbyshire side. That was Mark Watt, who picked up his first, first class five wicket haul after a splendid spell of bowling this morning. He was helped to some extent by a tremendous catch by Suranga Lakmal to dismiss Malan, but otherwise bowled with great skill and excellent variation of flight in taking 5-83 in 25 overs. On a small ground with a lightning fast outfield, those are outstanding figures.

Malan batted well, but the lower order didn't overstay their welcome and Derbyshire were batting again straight after lunch.

Yet with the Derbyshire top order blown apart in the first eight overs by Coad and Fisher, the Scot's efforts didn't seem to matter all that much. The two Yorkshire bowlers did an admirable job, but the difference in what happened at the other end was marked, compared to when Derbyshire bowled.

The batting order changed for the second innings, but Reece and Came were quickly gone, Lamb and Madsen soon followed. Perhaps Brooke Guest was given a breather after keeping wicket in intense heat for that length of time, but the emergence of Haider Ali at six brought a remarkable change.

I have written before and quite possibly will do again, that the experiment of the young Pakistan batsman opening the batting has been unfair. Here he showed his ability in spades, as he progressed to a majestic first century for the county. His cover driving was a thing of beauty and class, his defence was secure and the partnership, thus far, unbroken, with Leus du Plooy was a magnificent county record against Yorkshire, currently 231 runs.

A middle order batter of talent doing well as a middle order bat shouldn't be a surprise, but we have wasted a lot of time getting to this point. I was minded of Chris Wilkins, who came from South Africa as an opener, struggled on our wickets but never looked back when he dropped to number four. Ali should stay at five in four day cricket and Reece should revert to opening with Came.

It was a captain's innings from du Plooy, who matched Ali stroke for stroke until they had both reached their half century, when he became more circumspect. When bad light brought an early finish, he was four short of what would be a workmanlike and highly impressive century himself.

The Yorkshire bowling was a mixed bag. There was an obvious lessening of intensity when Coad and Fisher ended their spells, but that was a test of concentration for the batters. Former England man Dom Bess flighted the ball but took heavy punishment, especially from Ali and it was noticeable how Watt was by far the best spinner on display.

Of course, after those heroics Derbyshire are still likely to lose this game, just six runs ahead with six wickets left. If somehow they could leave Yorkshire around 200 in the final innings it could make for an excellent finish, but those runs would have to come from the current men at the crease, as well as Guest to follow. Two early wickets tomorrow could easily undo all the good work of today and how often have we seen established overnight batters removed quickly the next day?

In short, top marks for Watt, Ali and du Plooy, whose fight gave us reasons to be cheerful. 

But there is much more to do tomorrow for Derbyshire to salvage anything from this game.