Yorkshire 130-9 (Ferreira 44, Thomson 3-26, Amir 2-23, Patel 1-15)
Derbyshire 131-3 (Lloyd 50, Madsen 31*)
Derbyshire won by 7 wickets
After being soundly thrashed by Yorkshire in the four-day game that wasn't, Derbyshire turned the tables today and administered a seventh straight beating to the white rose county at Chesterfield.
Following on from last night's excellent win at Leicester, Derbyshire have put themselves back into contention. We needed to win five from six, now it is three from four, though admittedly that is going to need beating either Birmingham or Lancashire, as well as Worcestershire and Durham. None of them are games that can be taken for granted, but this is a good time to get on a roll. The margin of the win was such that our net run rate is now the third best in the group, which could be important come judgement day. The frustration is that we only play the last two counties once, which is not in our best interests in this format.
It helps, of course, that we now have two world class bowlers in the attack. Both Samit Patel and Mohammad Amir showed their class today and bowled spells of guile and skill. Amir hasn't slipped himself yet, bowling well within himself, but he is crucial to our hopes and is by a distance the best overseas bowler we've had this year.
Yet the damage today was done by Alex Thomson. His first over saw him take three crucial wickets. Malan changed his mind mid-stroke and lobbed a catch, Lyth assayed a drive straight to Patel at cover and Masood went on the charge first ball and was stumped nicely by Guest, who took a turning, lifting ball with aplomb. It was an odd move by the Yorkshire captain, but we weren't complaining.
With all of Yorkshire's top players back in the pavilion in the second over, it was then a case of damage limitation. It could have been worse, had Lloyd not shelled a chance given by Ferreira that he would take 99 times in a hundred, but the visitors never recovered.
The side looked lively in the field, the catching largely sound (Chappell's to dismiss Hill quite nonchalant) and Guest was back to his best behind the stumps. He did put one down near the end, but I considered that four runs saved, as the ball went between where first and second slips would have stood.
I have to say, early in that innings, I had concern over the pitch, which looked 'iffy', but it dried out and when the home side's turn came to bat they never looked in any danger. The irony of our winning the toss and doing well on deciding to bowl was not lost on me.
Such pitches at Derby might see Samit make a first-class comeback and it is a long time since I saw a bowler with two slips, as he did briefly, for T20.
Neither Donald nor Reece posted anything substantial, but they scored quickly and took the initiative. Lloyd atoned for his earlier error with a stylish and punchy half century, while Madsen saw his team through to victory with five overs to spare. I have written those words a few times over the years.
There was a marked difference in this side to the one that I saw earlier in the week. The presence and leadership of Patel should not be underestimated, while the arrival of Amir, belated as it is, could turn out to be perfect timing.
I would be happier if Cam Fletcher is fit for the next game. I still find it frustrating that we are in a tournament that allows two overseas players and are only fielding one, but that die was cast with recruitment. Luis Reece has done well in the last two games, but Fletcher could play a key innings before the end of the group stage and may well come back in.
Credit where it's due, Derbyshire's players have picked themselves up from the debacle of earlier in the week and have given themselves a chance. The light at the end of the tunnel could yet prove to be no more than a burglar's torch, but we would have taken this without question a week ago.
While they will look back on opportunities missed so far, in a strong group this looks like it could go down to the wire.
That being the case, I am delighted to acknowledge a job well done by players and coaching staff.
More please, gentlemen.
Dejected and flat six days ago, thinking this season is a nightmare, to be followed by possibly the two best days of the season. Can only be Derbyshire folks - for once I've nothing else to say!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff , 3 / 4 remaining games are against Top 4 contenders , feel we need to get 3 wins to qualify but it’s very possible if we carry this momentum forwards and add Fletcher to the fold .Well Done to the squad for regrouping ,a week is a long time in sport !!!
ReplyDeleteGood crowd and atmosphere today at Queens Park and a great toss to win! And the correct decision to put Yorkshire in to bat (lesson learnt). Thought the match was won after five overs with their top order back in the pavilion but then we are talking about Derbyshire. Some excellent bowling from everyone but hats off to Thommo for bagging three early wickets and not a bad haul - Lyth, Malan and Masood. Having a bowler of Amir’s quality opening the bowling made a big difference and Samit Patel, as usual, gave little away.
ReplyDeleteDonald and Reece got us off to a good start although, if l was to be critical, l wish Nye would play smarter at times. He had hit two fours in an over and could then easily have been out caught but the chance was dropped. It probably wouldn’t have made any difference to the outcome but with our fragile confidence you never know. Another half century from Lloyd and along with Wayne Madsen just about saw the job done. Neither tried to hit the leather off the ball but consistently found the gaps and boundaries.
Job done and it put a smile on the faces of at least half the crowd as the faithful sang “Can we play you every week”.
Nudger
Donald struggles outside of a power play so has to go hard and alas has no plan B. Something of a one trick pony, looking at his career stats, it is the only way he can bat. We’ll need the tolerate the many failures.
DeleteGreat all round performance, damn good day out and a good crack with our South Yorkshire friends. What it’s all about really and gives us hope for the coming weeks
ReplyDeleteMy first visit to Chesterfield and it’s hard to think of a better match than that to have seen. I did fear I might jinx Derbyshire’s run of victories over Yorkshire at Queen’s Park!
ReplyDeleteBy the time Alex Thomson had taken his three wickets in an over I thought I was in dreamland and at 10-4 I had to take a photo of the scoreboard to make sure it was really happening. Of course, Yorkshire battled on with Donovan Ferreira providing some lusty blows and 130-9 was a better score than they had probably hoped for after the first few overs.
Much like you, Steve, I too wondered about the pitch and if it was tricky to bat on during the Yorkshire innings, but by the interval I was happy that actually it was good bowling and fielding (that Zak Chappell catch was so coolly taken!) and we had restricted them to a target way below par.
The run chase was quite straightforward, if these things ever can be. Luis Reece and Aneurin Donald provided a bit of impetus and David Lloyd’s innings was peppered with excellently timed shots that reached the boundary.
The players seemed buoyed by the win last night and had a confidence so rarely seen this season. Let’s hope it can be carried forward to the Lancashire game on Thursday and you never know, we might finish in the top four yet.
What a difference a couple of days make. There’s still major concern with 4 day game but we can forget that for now as the T20 team looked like the one we were hoping for over the last couple of days.
ReplyDeleteA question I've been asked a number of times, and I have no clue to the answer, so ill put it over to you….
When/how was the decision on which teams only play once made and is it set in stone for the foreseeable?
I've often grumbled that playing Durham only once is a handicap, though they are finally having a decent season this time around.
Whoosh! Up the table we go. Brilliant performance this afternoon, as it was on Friday.
ReplyDeleteHow many players in T20 have taken three wickets in an over , like Alex Thomson did?
Perfect start from Donald and Reece, and then Loyyd and Madsen batted knuckled down.
Perhaps it's all coming together in the T20.
Having Samit in t20 is like a cheat code; does he ever go for more than 6 an over? Imagine being Notts and having him for all those years! I class any runs as a bonus over and above his wonderful tight bowling.
ReplyDeleteExcellent result today, we are back in with a shout.
Right, are we now witnessing a new determined Derbyshire, one who is willing to pick themselves up and dust themselves down when the going gets tough?. That was a splendid couple of days cricket culminating in the destruction of Yorkshire yet again at Chesterfield, how they must dread this fixture lol.
ReplyDeleteWe have to build on this now, confidence has been restored a bit so there's no reason why we can't go on and win three of these last four matches, Warwickshire the exception who are looking really strong.
Well done Derbyshire for a lovely couple of victories and restoring a bit of pride!