Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire One Day Cup

Gloucestershire 341-8 (Price 103, Bracey 83, Taylor 67, Charlesworth 60, Potts 3-72, Aitchison 2-88)

Derbyshire  282 (Guest 86, Montgomery 42, Basra 40, Jewell 35, Akhter 4-47)

Gloucestershire won by 59 runs

Derbyshire went down by 59 runs at Cheltenham today.

Their bowling was a bit of a curate's egg. There were plenty of reasons to be cheerful with the debut of Rory Haydon, especially after he removed the prolific Cameron Bancroft. He bowled with great control and looked a player with a future, taking 1-34 in nine overs. Joe Hawkins wasn't overawed by the big stage, nor was Amrit Basra, who probably didn't expect to bowl today.

Ben Aitchison had an off day and his figures reflect that, while the others had their moments but also took stick, from a strong batting side on a small ground. 

Fair play to Nick Potts. I didn't think that we would see him again today when he had bowled three overs for 42 runs. His third over was awful, almost demanding to be hit and it was a bold move by Brooke Guest to bring him back later. 

Yet he took 3-30 in his next five over spell and produced some excellent yorkers. There is a bowler in there, but this is an important competition for him. It is clear that we need bowlers for next season and that money largely has to come from savings on the playing budget this year. It is up to Nick to make a strong case for his retention. I really wish him well, but he cannot afford many spells like his first one today.

It was always going to be tough against a strong batting side and with an inexperienced attack. Only Miles Hammond is missing from their batting lineup and Price, Bracey, Charlesworth and Taylor all played fine knocks.

342 was always going to be a demanding target and it needed someone to go big. Came never got going, while Jewell neither suggested top form nor permanence. Montgomery, who looks a fine player, batted well with Guest, but his dismissal left much to be done.

The main problem was that we were were rarely close to the required rate, which climbed to seven, then eight. 

Then came Amrit Basra. An innings of 40 on debut accelerated the scoring in a partnership of 76 with his captain. His bat speed and timing make him a joy to watch and on this evidence a contract for 2026 should surely follow. There were three big sixes and a delightful reverse sweep in a debut that supporters will have enjoyed.

When he unluckily played on, 114 were needed from thirteen overs. The stage was set for a vintage Ross Whiteley display, but his dismissal was tame and his innings short, coming soon after Guest was caught at long on for an excellent 86. It signalled the end of Derbyshire hopes, though the tail struck some lusty blows. The returning Zaman Akhter, who will join Essex for next season, made a big difference for the home side. Bowling fast and straight, he ripped through the late order and although the Derbyshire chase showed promise, the target was simply too many.

It was a chastening start to the competition. Although there were fresh shoots of encouragement, we have to bowl better than this or there will be few ticks in the win column by the end of it.