Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 1

Derbyshire 391-4 (Andersson 134*, Reece 89* Jewell 56, Came 50, Guest 36, 

v Worcestershire 

Having been put into bat after losing the toss this morning, Derbyshire will have been delighted to lunch at 100-1, thrilled to reach tea at 241-4. Ecstatic to add a further 150 by the close, to finish 391-4.

It was an early season pitch, with plenty of movement, a few examples of the ball 'stopping' and a couple where it kept worryingly low. Especially worrying, if in winning the toss you had consigned yourself to the final innings on the pitch...

Despite losing on the coin, Cap'n Came did little wrong afterwards, in a lovely innings that helped his side to a very good start. He was sound in defence, committed in attack and looked in little trouble, until he edged behind with the score on 82. 

At the other end Caleb Jewell was more circumspect than usual, but there was still opportunity to unveil his trademark cover drives, which remain a thing of great beauty. Key for both players was playing straight and being prepared to wait for the bad ball. Impatience saw the early dismissal of Montgomery, who struggled to come to terms with the pitch, despite getting off the mark with a square drive for four from his first ball.

Brooke Guest was quickly into his stride and was markedly timing the ball better than in the previous pre-season game. Jewell's vigil ended on 56 and when Guest fell victim to one that clearly stopped and lobbed a gentle catch to gulley, the game was back in the balance with Derbyshire 181-4.

Batting at five, Martin Andersson looked in control from the moment he came to the crease. His stroke play today was redolent of high summer, the shots of a man who had a thousand runs behind him and was booking in for a few more. Both his timing and placement could scarce have been bettered and in company with the ever-reliable Reece, the tea interval was reached after an afternoon that produced 141 runs. This despite very good spells by Waite and Taylor, who dragged their side back into the game with lengthy and challenging spells.

It should not be forgotten that the stroke play down the order was largely possible due to the diligence of that opening pair, putting overs in new-season legs and in the ball. If Derbyshire are to have a memorable summer, they will need plenty of this, such as Paul Borrington and Martin Guptill produced in 2012, when we won the second division. The top order were secure in defence, played straight, yet never missed an opportunity to go on the offensive.

The visitors didn't help themselves with poor catching in the slip cordon. A couple of bowlers looked rusty, but at this stage of the year everyone is in the same position. There were a few unnecessarily lengthy appeals, a couple that bordered on dissent and the visiting frustration was evident by slumping shoulders.

After tea, D'Oliveira and Libby entered the attack for the first time, less because conditions appeared favourable, more because the over rate earlier had been extremely tardy. The scoring continued apace and there is much to enjoy in having an experienced opening bat in the middle order. Luis Reece, having played himself in before the interval, discovered his fluent game and the runs mounted as the slow bowlers were milked around. The partnership passed a hundred and the county 300 came up with 20 overs to go in the day, Reece reaching his fifty with the same stroke.

Soon afterwards, Andersson reached a century of considerable charm and remarkable early-season fluency. I can pay no greater tribute than to say the absent Wayne Madsen wasn't missed on this occasion. He is a very watchable player and the Middlesex loss has been very much Derbyshire's gain. He went on to his highest first class score in a magnificent display.

The day ended with Derbyshire in complete control at 391-4, the stand at 210 with power to add.

Finally tonight, a word about the excellent stream. Despite running it at a fraction of the cost of others on the circuit, the Derbyshire model is always very impressive. The use of the different angles and cameras were appreciated and those involved deserve every credit for making the output as professional as today, so early in the season.

If Carlsberg did days at the cricket, eh? 

Well done fellas. Great effort today!