Derbyshire 111 and 453 (du Plooy 170, Ali 146, Guest 42, Thomson 39*, Fisher 3-70, Bess 3-190
Yorkshire 353 and 147-6 (Masood 68*, Watt 3-46, Thomson 2-30)
Yorkshire need 65 runs to win
Three wickets in the final four overs left Yorkshire nerves jangling and their support is very nervous tonight. The first partnership tomorrow, between one assumes Malan and Masood, will likely be the crucial one. Yet Leus du Plooy, after changing bowlers and their end on a regular basis, found a combination that worked at the death in Alex Thomson and Mark Watt.
The Scot has bowled splendidly in this game and looked every inch the international bowler that he is. His control of line and length has been almost exemplary on a small ground with little margin for error, but after previous success at Chesterfield, I think he would be quite happy to play more cricket at this venue.
Any suggestions that he is 'only' a limited overs bowler have been well and truly put to bed here. I was especially impressed by his flight and loop, which we don't always see in the short format, but he is a very talented cricketer.
65 to win tomorrow and after yesterday's heroics between Haider Ali and Leus du Plooy, we owe the captain a standing ovation for his efforts here. While his Vitality Blast returns have been less impressive, he averages 80 in 4 day cricket, considerably higher than any of his team.
This innings, his highest for the county, was magnificent. The stroke play always is, but the sheer power of concentration and the level of physical fitness to bat so long in that heat is astonishing. I went out to our garden bench this morning and lasted half an hour, just sitting there. Doing 22 yard sprints in a helmet and pads takes it to a whole new level and he deserves every plaudit and acclamation for his display.
Ali didn't last so long today and the decision didn't look the best, but good support came from Guest and Thomson. While acknowledging that Brooke is perfectly good enough to bat three, there is a reassurance in having him come in at seven. Thomson also did well and has had a pretty good game here, after limited opportunities all summer. I always enjoy watching spinners bowl in tandem and that selection may yet turn out to be crucial.
There is a chance for one of those spinners, for they are the most likely, to be the hero tomorrow. I would be surprised if we didn't open with them and Thomson might, turning it away from the left-handers, be the key weapon.
The one anomaly of the day was Suranga Lakmal having to retire after a blow on the head. He was actually batting pretty well and Thomson even better at the other end. Might they have added a further 15 to 20 runs, which in the context of this finish could be crucial?
Zak Chappell was deemed too good a bat to be allowed to continue Lakmal's innings, though the Sri Lankan, only dismissed once this season, has the higher average.
The game may or may not turn on that decision, which by the law was correct, but regardless of the result this has been an extraordinary advert for county cricket. The setting has been perfect, the weather likewise and the wicket has been everything you could wish for. I would love to see such tracks replicated at Derby, because there genuinely is something in it for everyone.
As it turns out, I won't see tomorrow morning's conclusion, as my wife and I will be travelling, with our dogs, to see my Mum. We will be there for a few days but will be back home in time to see the T20 on Sunday.
I will do a header for the final day, so your comments on it can go in the appropriate place.
Derbyshire Derbyshire, can you please stop frustrating the hell out of your supporters please, you're certainly baffling me anyway. From what looked a certain defeat after the first day now looks like a potential victory on day 4, just what is going on?
ReplyDeleteFantastic innings by Leus and Haider have saved us from a battering really, and our bowling today was very good and has given us a great chance of a result. Still think Yorkshire will knock them off but at least we've come back fighting here
Totally agree with your comments Steve. Leus was superb today, playing as risk free as possible to build the lead. It was a major surprise when he was dismissed.
ReplyDeleteFor me, tomorrow we should just use the spinners as they were far more effective than the seamers.
Again more enjoyment to be had in one match at Chesterfield than all the Derby games put together.
What an extraordinary day's cricket! Derbyshire have shown the sort of resolve we thought they didn't have and were it not for the fact that Masood is still there and Malan next man in we would be favourites to win. A brilliant innings by du Plooy with some assistance from Guest and Thomson have given us an outside chance of victory which seemed unbelievable in day one and when we were 17-4 batting again yesterday. Harder Ali's lbw decision seemed dubious, a view repeated in the Cricinfo report. Were it not for this , who knows what score he would have gone on to make. ? Anyway, well done Derbyshire. One of those days when we have proved we can still perform the ocasional miracle!
ReplyDeleteAnother absorbing days cricket. Queens Park does seem to produce entertaining games where matches ebb and flow and if it wasn’t for that first innings ‘car crash’ we surely would be celebrating a victory.
ReplyDeleteWonderful contributions from du Plooy, Ali and Watt with able support from Thomson but they desperately need to sort out that top four batting order. Of equal concern is the seam attack which lacked any penetration and I’m not sure what’s happened to Ben Aitchison who used to be ‘Mr Metronome.’ Hope that Suranga Lakmal makes a speedy recovery from that painful knock but his performances with the ball so far have been underwhelming.
Whatever the outcome tomorrow, l hope the team can take confidence from the fight back over the last couple of days and regroup.
Nudger Needham
I agree with the comments above. If we lose tomorrow, then at least we can take away a fantastic fightback after being skittled out for 111 in the first innings.
ReplyDeleteWhen I set off for Chesterfield this morning, I was wondering what to do in the afternoon if play ended early. Thanks to some excellent batting by Derbyshire, I came away at 6.45.
ReplyDeleteA most enjoyable day and the east wind that has been freezing us in Derby was welcome for a change as it tempered the heat.
On the third day at Chesterfield last year, Shan Masood lead his side to victory with a brilliant display. Unfortunately for Derbyshire, he repeated that today against us, but we still have a chance to get him out tomorrow.