Leicestershire v Derbyshire day three

Leicestershire 484 and 291-8 (Ahmed 77, Budinger 44, Tickner 3-59, Andersson 2-32, Morley 2-54)

Derbyshire 393

Leicestershire lead by 382 runs

A fascinating but curious third day of this game set up what should be an intriguing finish at Leicester tomorrow.

Blair Tickner and Jack Morley added a plucky 47 for the last wicket, after Andersson was dismissed with no addition to his overnight century. There were a few edges but some good shots too, Morley clearly illustrating he has worked on his batting over the winter and can no longer be considered the 'Binary Jack' that his scores last season suggested. 

Budinger and Ahmed set off at a fair lick and extended the lead of 91 very quickly with a fine  stand of 132 in just 20 overs. Yet thereafter they lost wickets steadily to a Derbyshire attack that largely offered Tickner and Chappell's brimstone at one end and Morley's treacle at the other.  So much so that the next 50 overs added only 159 runs. Indeed, in the final session Green and van Beek batted as if they were trying to save the game, rather than win it. 

I can only assume that the home side doesn't see the pitch as having deteriorated so much as to leave Derbyshire a day and, say, twenty overs to get the runs, or maybe they are a bowler down. Both Ahmed and van Beek were struck on the helmet by a hostile attack and concussion protocols may or may not come into play.

 It seemed unduly negative, although perhaps they are banking on an historically accurate Derbyshire collapse tomorrow. Time will tell on that one, but when bad light brought the players off early, it seemed they had missed a trick in not getting Derbyshire in for a few overs and maybe nicking a wicket or two tonight.

Tickner in particular ran in hard, bowled aggressively and deserved his three wickets, while Andersson added to his fine match with two, but for me the best bowler was Jack Morley. The slow left armer bowled a beautifully controlled spell and clearly illustrated both why he was signed and why he has become the lead spinner at the club. He was by far the most economical bowler and maintained a nagging, probing length throughout, with a lovely loop to his bowling.

One assumes that Leicestershire will declare overnight and that Derbyshire will be set what would be a club record run chase of 383 to win. With Anuj Dal struggling and off the field with a back injury, one or two batters will need to step up, but it should be - weather permitting - an absorbing day.

Let's hope that the fighting spirit shown by Derbyshire so far extends into the final day. Record or not, with a fast outfield and not overly long boundaries it is not beyond them, if key men get in. 

There will be a few of us watching, for sure!