Derbyshire v Lancashire day two

Lancashire 367 and 114-1 (Jennings 51*, Wells 31, Bohannon 30*)

Derbyshire 261 (Andersson 79, Madsen 70, Balderson 4-71) 

Lancashire lead by 220 runs

Derbyshire conceded a first innings lead of 106 runs at Chesterfield today, with supporters left feeling much of it was self-inflicted.

I think that is fair, when three are dismissed shouldering arms and another two are 'strangled' down the leg side. With Zak Chappell run out in a dreadful mix up with Martin Andersson when they were going well, it was a day for wondering 'what if'. 

Truth be told, there was no excessive movement once the first hour had gone, though a very occasional delivery nipped in off the pitch. Jimmy Anderson was the danger man and removed both openers with balls that nipped back to first remove Wagstaff leg before, then destroy the stumps of Jewell. That's three times in three innings now, which both will be aware of.

His later spells were less effective, but Balderson bowled well in a skiddy style and dismissed both Came and Guest to deliveries they could have left well alone. Madsen and Guest had steered Derbyshire to calmer waters at lunch, but the dismissal of both in the early afternoon was a blow. The captain batted well again, but was thought out by Hurst, standing up to the stumps to cramp his footwork and Balderson obliging with a pitched up delivery to trap him leg before.

Dal and Andersson took the score on, but like Guest earlier, Nuj never suggested he was in his best form. Andersson was and it was frustrating when Dal was the latest to be dismissed playing no stroke. Chappell also looked in decent touch but his dismissal was poor from both players involved, given the match situation. It left Andersson, who was excellent, exposed with the tail and there was no happy ending this time.

Thereafter it was a procession, but the deficit could have been worse, bar for the battling from middle order and tail. Then again, maybe it should have been better, given those self-inflicted wounds.

Lancashire more consistently bowled in the right areas, something emphasised in their second innings, when Jennings and Wells progressed at a rate too brisk for Derbyshire comfort. The advent of Dal to the attack produced an unplayable ball to bowl Wells, but the ubiquitous Jennings and Bohannon steered them to the close at 114-1, despite good, accurate spells from Tickner and Morley.

At this stage we are fighting for the draw, which might be aided by the Wednesday weather forecast. But with Lancashire hoping for their first red ball win of the summer, they will aim to score quickly tomorrow to progress the game, regardless of the potential for stoppages on the final day.

I wasn't overly impressed by the visitors in the field and had the sound down very early, their constant vocals, 'Oohs' and 'chirping' unnecessary, just as it was at Old Trafford. There's no need for such nonsense and that would be the case were Derbyshire the culprits.

Here endeth the sermon...