Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 3

Gloucestershire 498

Derbyshire 281 (Madsen 65, Chappell 34, van Buuren 3-31, Bell 3-84)

and 117-3 (Montgomery 48*, Madsen 35)

Derbyshire trail by 100 runs

I saw a friend of mine in the crowd at Derby today, a man with a teaching background, even if working in another field these days.

Were he still teaching and marking this Derbyshire display, I have no doubt that it would have merited '4/10 - MUST do better'.

Almost everyone got a start, but no one got close to Wayne Madsen's 65 and only Zak Chappell got past thirty. As an effort in backs to the wall defiance it was laudable, but in the grand scheme of things, it counted for nowt. Especially after the opposition numbers nine and ten scored as they did yesterday.

Let's be honest, we are playing a side that until this game had collected three points from three matches. They have good players - and have proved it in this match - but confidence was at a low ebb and from a Derbyshire perspective, this was a game in which they should - at least - have given a decent account of themselves. 

I take nothing away from the visitors, who have played some good cricket, fielded tigerishly and have looked the better side. Both Graeme van Buuren and Gabe Bell bowled intelligently today and their side were on top throughout. Canny fields were set AND bowled to, even if some of the appeals were unnecessarily protracted. I still fail to see how mid-wicket can appeal for lbw, while van Buuren's nigh-petulance when Madsen was not given leg before detracted from his good work through the day. The ball was clearly sliding down leg and his reaction was uncalled for.

A factor in the pressure that they applied, for me, was in the excellent wicketkeeping by James Bracey, who stood up to the stumps for most of the time and prevented the Derbyshire batters from using their feet. This was particularly pertinent with Martin Andersson, who we all know likes to go a-wandering when he gets in. He couldn't do that, nor could the others. It spoke volumes for the wicketkeeping and also for the accuracy of most of the bowling. 

The writing was on the wall when Andersson played on and Madsen nearly replicated the dismissal of Bancroft for Gloucestershire on the first day. It was a tame end to a fine innings, but while everyone else fought hard, no one really suggested longevity and the ability to get on top of the visiting attack. 

Guest got a good one that turned and Chappell was first combative, then bucolic, but I would best sum up the day with a not especially literary 'meh'.

The visitors had a first innings lead of 217 and might have considered batting again, scoring quick runs and hope to bowl out Derbyshire in the fourth innings. But a follow on it was and Came, who has had a poor match here, was leg before to Bell for the second time and immediately justified the decision.

I do like an Australian quick bowler. They give value for money, tend to be fairly robust (though don't mention the name Stanlake round these parts..) and in the case of Bell, sometimes fly under the radar. He doesn't try to bowl too fast, but the occasional quicker delivery catches the unwary off guard. 

But it was Miles who took the second wicket, Jewell getting one that kept a little low. The Tasmanian's footwork isn't right at present and he was neither forward nor back, which didn't help his cause. Derbyshire were deep in trouble at 

37-2.

At which point Montgomery and Madsen came together. They took the score to a hundred, with sound defence and sensible strokes, before a perfectly pitched leg break from Middleton accounted for the Derbyshire skipper, four overs from the close. Aitchison came in as night watchman and saw it to the close at 117-3, including a not especially night watchmanly six over mid wicket. Montgomery batted well and was two away from a half century.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Derbyshire can still save this game, but they will need to bat far better as a unit than they did the first time around. There will be no weather to save them, so we will get an early indication of the mettle of this squad in adversity.

We all know that the first session at Derby each day is the most challenging. If wickets fall frequently, that is when it happens, so there should be a good indication by lunch time tomorrow as to whether this game can be saved.

Whatever happens, I won't see the final day, as we are going on the first of our summer holidays to the delights of Berwick upon Tweed. As I usually do, I will create a page for your comments tomorrow, but will not give my own observations, as it wouldn't be fair to do so. 

Let's see what unfolds...