Derbyshire v Leicestershire Vitality Blast game 2

Leicestershire 176-6 (Handscomb 75* Ahmed 36* Patel 2-21)

Derbyshire 178-6 (Patel 64, Madsen 43, Guest 20*)

Derbyshire won by four wickets

 

As a Derbyshire supporter, I don't ask for much. Just that the team goes out, competes and wins a few games along the way. The more the merrier, of course, but the signs from the first two games are that we might just do all right in this competition. 

The victory at Edgbaston today was exciting, in a game that ebbed and flowed quite beautifully throughout. Peter Handscomb showed himself a very fine cricketer for Leicestershire, but Derbyshire came through a troublesome position with sterling efforts from skipper Samit Patel and the evergreen Wayne Madsen. At the death, when cool heads were required, we had one of the coolest in Brooke Guest, who orchestrated the final chase beautifully.

Patel's timing and placement was excellent, while Madsen lent good and sensible support. Reece and Came struggled early, but Lloyd got the ball of the game from Ben Mike and could do nothing about it. 

I thought we bowled and fielded well again today. Catches were taken, the field intelligently set and the bowling was good, especially on a pitch where one boundary was significantly shorter than the other.  

Chappell was excellent until his last over took some stick, but this happens against good players. Brown was also very good and I maintain, as I did pre-season, that we have traded up in swapping him for George Scrimshaw. He is brilliant in the field, besides what he offers with the ball and it was nice to hear the commentary team noticing his return to form.

Special mention for Mitch Wagstaff too today. He came into the side and did a fabulous job with his leg spin. Bowling straight through, he was loudly encouraged after every ball by Guest, while the occasional word and pat on the back from his captain was good to see. 

Samit turned the clock back. His bowling was niggardly, which we have come to expect, but his batting rekindled memories of his very high quality prime. He had a little luck and should have been held twice, once from a routine catch that Ben Cox probably drops once in every five thousand attempts. But his batting and a century partnership with Wayne Madsen turned the game on its head. 64 off 32 balls gave us the sort of power we have often lacked in the past as five times he cleared the ropes.

I have seen Derbyshire capitulate plenty of times when faced with the equation of the final two overs. But an exquisite six over extra cover by Guest steadied the nerves and a less well-timed one from the fine ball of the nineteenth started a party, at least in this house 

How can we improve? I could almost copy and paste from last night, because 17 from the first three overs and 39 from the Powerplay will not be good enough towards the business end of the competition. The return of Donald will undoubtedly help, but we cannot end the fielding restrictions playing catch up all the time.

Again Daryl du Pavillon was missing, though it is hard to see where he fits in on merit. Were I on the club board, I would be a little concerned that someone we had brought from South Africa, paid flights, accommodation, maybe a car and a decent salary to couldn't get into a first choice side. A mistake has been made. I won't accept 'rotation' as an excuse, because teams bring over two overseas players to enhance their squad. We are only playing one. 

But tonight, with a smile on my face, I will focus on the positives. This was a good Derbyshire display and you could tell what it meant to them. Lancashire await, but with their England men missing, they are beatable. 

The little tweak to the side today brought dividends and Wagstaff was definitely an enhancement, both to the bowling and the fielding, while he is a handy lad to be batting at nine. If Donald can return after this weekend there is power to add.

Let's see what happens at Old Trafford tomorrow. 

But that was a good effort today. Samit's Soldiers are on the march!