Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 3

Derbyshire 604

Northamptonshire 228 (Harrison 107, McManus 47, Sales 46, Aitchison 4-55, Haydon 3-72,  Bashir 2-47, Chappell 1-17)

and 66-2

Derbyshire lead by 310 runs

It wasn't the warmest at Derby today, at least not in early morning. 

I set out from the hotel with a fleece and light jacket on, and within a dozen paces had retreated to bring out the big winter equivalent from the car. The padding may have made me look like the Michelin Man, but I was cosy, which counts for a lot on such days.

Anyway, the welcome on the ground was as warm and cordial as ever from the gate staff, while an early lap or two of the ground saw hugely enjoyable conversations with friends old and new. Could Derbyshire make early breakthroughs? That was a recurring theme and we would soon find out, once the fielding and football drills has been completed.

Harrison and Sales, the overnight batters, proceeded serenely enough, before the latter was trapped leg before by Chappell, who had previously been unlucky in this innings and bowled well throughout. The likely tactic always appeared to be to while away with seam at one end, while Bashir kept the other quiet. He handled that admirably, in a long and accurate spell. 

He quickly removed Bartlett, smartly snaffled by Came at midwicket, but thereafter it was hard work until the advent of the second new ball.

Harrison reached an admirable century, but was bowled soon afterwards by Haydon, while Aitchison made short work of Sanderson and Scrimshaw. When Bashir removed McManus, smartly taken by Montgomery at short leg, the visitors were all out for 228 and Wayne Madsen enforced the follow on, 376 runs ahead. 

Aitchison at last got the scorebook reward for his excellent bowling this summer. He, Haydon and Chappell have bowled very well here. The question as to who drops out when Abbas returns is one to occupy minds in the next week or two.

It left Derbyshire needing ten wickets in 133 overs. In the evening sunshine, Procter and Vasconcelos took no risks and added 50 runs in almost 24 overs, before Andersson trapped the visiting captain leg before.

That seemed to be it, until the reintroduction of Bashir saw Vasconcelos undo 119 balls of attrition with a flat-footed chop onto his stumps. Bashir is always worth watching and bowled quite beautifully today, as he has since the start of the summer and his quicker ball was the undoing of the Northamptonshire man.

Madsen handled his attack well and set some innovative fields throughout, while the discipline of the home attack was evident with only five extras in 96 overs. 

It will need to continue tomorrow and Derbyshire will need to take the chances that comes their way. A hard chance to Madsen at slip and another to Bashir at backward square leg would have changed the complexion of the final day. A draw still seems the more likely result, but the home side has acquitted itself well here, in a welcome return to form. Early wickets tomorrow, with a second new ball to come - hey, you never know.

I will watch that from the comfort of my armchair at home and aim to leave tomorrow morning around 4am in order to do so. 

It really has been a pleasure to catch up with so many lovely people over the past three days. 

Hopefully I will see a few more at Chesterfield, for the Lancashire match. 

Until then, stay well!