Worcestershire 237 all out (Libby 78, Roderick 40, Dal 5-45, McKerr 2-39)
Derbyshire 32-2 (Guest 13*)
Derbyshire trail by 205 runs
Yet the top order frailties that have dogged us all season returned, with both openers back in the pavilion before the close of play.
The team was pretty much as I had predicted, neither Scrimshaw nor Khan being risked ahead of next weekend. Conor McKerr opened the bowling in his third stint with the club and did well. I have seen him bowl quicker, but he was accurate and used the new ball well.
I also thought Ben Aitchison looked more himself today and a couple of technical issues that had crept into his action seem to have been addressed. Luis Reece also seemed to be more of his usual bowling self and there was a wicket for the return of Matt Potts.
Yet again, however, the star turn at Worcester was Anuj Dal. He must wish he could play on this track every week and he took five wickets again today. It has not been an easy season for him, hampered by injury and an early season loss of form with the bat.
He did well in the second team T20 competition and looked to be returning to form, confirming that today with a splendid 5-45 from 19 overs. We have missed that this year, someone to keep it tight at one end and force batters to take risk at the other. The others looked better bowlers as a consequence and McKerr returned later to finish with 2-39 in 16 overs.
Libby, an opening bat I rate, did well for the home side, but there was little real resistance bar for Roderick.
Yet those top border frailities let us down. Came made an awful miscalculation and shouldered arms to the first ball bowled by Saini, losing his off stump as a consequence. He probably hadn't seen him bowl before, but an open-chested action suggested the in swinger that it was.
Guest and Reece looked to have restored the equilibrium, not without alarms, but the latter edged to slip off the final ball of the day to give Pennington a wicket.
Whoever and whatever is on Mickey Arthur's shopping list this winter, a dependable opening bat must be high upon it. Reece's scores this year have been made down the order, Wood doesn't get selected for this format and Godleman has gone. Ali isn't an opener and we can't ask Guest to open after keeping wicket all day.
One to keep an eye on.
As a footnote, my wife and I are going to Berwick upon Tweed tomorrow with the dogs until Friday afternoon. I will blog briefly when I'm able to, but won't see too much of the play, so will defer to those of you who do, over the remainder of this game.
Stay well!
You’re dead right re the opening positions Peakfan. Reece’s stats over the last few years aren’t much better than Godleman’s and Came doesn’t look to be the answer. Wood is a long way short in this format. All three will be lucky to survive for another season if their contracts are up although one may do so if suitable replacements cannot be found. If so I’d go with Came.
ReplyDeleteApart from Dal, McKerr looked like our best bowler which is sad really given he’s not ours.
Paul
Agree about the openers. Reece shouldn’t really be opening after bowling so many overs and despite his excellent form last year it’s a tough gig for Guest to bat at 3 after keeping all day. Having said that we have an overload of middle order bats with Dal at 7 in the current line up and Lamb missing so difficult to fit them all in. Good effort with the ball in those conditions. Hopefully the middle order gets us a lead tomorrow but suspect it will be a struggle…
ReplyDeleteGood performance by Derbyshire in the field after Worcestershire decided to bat. And particularly good to see Anuj Dal back in the side as he adds so much to the team. We have certainly missed his contribution with bat and ball. Just frustrating to, yet again, lose early wickets, not sure what the answer is. Not sure what’s happened to Reece but doesn’t seem like the player who contributed so much earlier in his time at the club.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we can make inroads tomorrow but weather may disrupt chances of a result, sadly.
Nudger Needham
Would you take Nick Browne PF?
ReplyDeleteOut of his depth in div 1 but in the past solid div 2 opener, especially against you!, but finally we appear to be losing patience (as the support has been clamouring for for 3 years now and a youngster is getting a chance opening and learning from chef, at lest in this game...
Curious if you would have him or not as pst his best. Personally think you can do better.
Essex Fan
There was a time I would have said yes. But here's another single format player and we have plenty of those. I think his figures are artificially massaged by his stats against Derbyshire. I guess it depends on who is available. If he is the best, then maybe, but he probably wouldn't be my first choice right now
DeleteThere are not too many players down south who want to come north to ply their trade and do so successfully.
Are many out of contract at Essex this year?
Other than he, Lawrence, who has gone to moneybags CC, chef who will probably retire, Aron Nijar (i think - who will surely leave as does not get in the T20 side anymore) and Feroze Khushi, who we all hope signs a new contract but has not played much 4 day because of being blocked by browne averaging low 20's (boosted by one big score on a road vs. a weak Kent attack, so realsistic average in the teens), which we all find baffling (yet browne is cooks big mate so may explain it).
DeleteEF
The bowling was brilliant today, and it was fantastic to see Dal pick up five.
ReplyDeleteAfter bowling out Worcestershire for 237, we shouldn't have lost two wickets in ten overs.
But, yes, we need an opener. Reece has been a fine player, but his batting, in both CC and T20, seems to be on a downward spiral. Players reach a certain peak, and some then can't go beyond it. I think this is the case with Reece.
Fine bowling looking likely to be undone by poor batting, story of our season or vice versa. Dal excellent, Reece way out of sorts with the bat and like you say Peakfan an opening batsman has to be high on Mickey Arthur's wishlist this winter
ReplyDeleteA pair of opening bowlers has to be top priority
DeleteJust for the sake of balance, may I point out Luis is averaging 38 with the bat in first class cricket this season. It seems some people are only too happy to be critical of our players.
ReplyDeleteYes, he does, but as I pointed out earlier, most of those runs have come in the middle order. Maybe that is his future, but someone, from somewhere, needs to start contributing scores at the top of the order
ReplyDelete