Derbyshire 377
Northamptonshire 265-5 (Procter 71, Broad 64*, Bartlett 60* Reece 2-70)
Derbyshire lead by 112 runs
At 154-5, with the dismissal of Saif Zaib by Joe Hawkins (not Dawkins or Wilkins as various media outlets have called him), the home side were rocking. Then an unbroken stand of 110 between Bartlett and Broad steered them to calmer waters by the close. The irony that the stand was between two players who Derbyshire actively pursued in recent winters was not lost on me...
The Derbyshire first innings was a good effort, but the expectation was perhaps that the pitch might deteriorate more quickly than it appears to have done. Reece bowled brilliantly between lunch and tea, while Hawkins did as well as one might expect from an 18-year old in his first match. He was a little short in his length early on, but will be proud of his opening wicket, that of the division's leading run scorer.
Tickner bowled with aggression but couldn't make the breakthrough, while both Chappell and Aitchison huffed and puffed tidily but couldn't break down the door.
Bartlett and Broad batted very well, as earlier did Procter, despite a fierce blow on the arm from Tickner.
Early wickets are needed tomorrow, when rain looks likely to truncate proceedings.
Finally a word on the commentators. I don't often listen, because I prefer my own thoughts, but I thought they were very good today and even-handed in their comments. That isn't always the case on the circuit and I doff my cap to them for a job well done.
I too have appreciated the commentators who are both level headed and have been very complimentary about our players. Far better , for instance , than the in-house team at Birmingham Bears who shriek that every boundary is the greatest they have ever witnessed.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was another very good performance today. It’s very hard to take 20 wickets with a kookaburra ball but all our bowlers stuck to the task and bowled very well. We looked far more purposeful in the field then the last game. I always think our bowling attack looks better when Aitchtson plays. Hawkins bowled pretty well for his first game and it was good to see us looking a good side again
ReplyDeleteThey are a good listen. Knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the game in general.
ReplyDeleteI've always found it odd that the commentary teams don't seem to realise that a large percentage of their audience will be supporting the away team. These two have been excellent whenever I've tuned in, and appear knowledgeable about our players. Perhaps a little too complimentary, at times!
ReplyDeleteSome poor umpiring today. One of them had a shocker, worse than I've seen in the Derbyshire county league.
I usually have the sound from the BBC with Dave Fletcher and sync it with the stream - quite often it is 2/3 deliveries adrift.
ReplyDeleteRather you than me, but each to their own I guess.
DeleteAgreed that the commentary team are very good. Also our own Dave fletcher is one of the better ones along with the Leicestershire one who is very nice to listen to and very knowledgeable. I think it’s a bit of a shame so many teams have gone in house and don’t have a balanced view of the game Kevin hand atMiddlesex is particularly bad with his one eyed views. Also the Australian women ( sorry I don’t know her name) who is sometime on Derbyshire s spends far too much time talking about herself then just shouts out next ball when she remembers the cricket
ReplyDeleteMelinda Farrell. She does digress from time to time, but her cricket knowledge is sound. I find her easy to listen to. Rather hear insightful cricket chat, than inane nonsense about kebabs and Burton Albion.
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