vic's Derbyshire Story

8th July - County Championship: vs Lancashire (H)

Changes: Dean out for Simon Jones, who has taken some wickets in the 2nd XI. Pearson is back from injury, and has good form in the Twenty20 stuff. He takes the place of the very unlucky Marsden.



The Lancs top order took control early, and piled on the runs. Lungley was brave, and took a number of wickets through the middle order, as they fell from 2/200 to their eventual total on a good batting surface.

The response was looking unhealthy, but a fantastic 6th wicket partnership between the two century makers saw us take a big first innings lead.

Derby bowlers then did the job on the Lancs top order, but couldn't break through the number 8 or 9, who held up the Derby side for a long time in an attempt to force a draw, or alternatively give themselves something to bowl towards. Jones continued to show that he has recaptured some form with a good match performance.

This left us with an hour and a session to chase 142. Things were tough against the disciplined Lancs attack, and at tea there was 107 to chase. An hour less, and we were 4 down, with 79 for the win. Wickets continued to tumble in the chase for quick runs, while Casey anchored the innings. With four overs left, 15 were needed. In the second last over, with three to win, Casey was trapped LBW. Only three required in the last over, but Cale bowled four dots with scores tied, to ensure the draw. A heartbreaking game for the Derby boys.

13th July - National League: vs Somerset (A)

Changes: Pearson in for Clinton, and Khalid back in for Marsden. Sherbourne returns at the expense of Dean.



Disappointing bowling effort, with Simon Jones going for 8 an over from his 9. Lungley and the spinners put in passable efforts, while Sherbourne showed promising signs of form. A sixth wicket partnership of 67 was vitally important for Somerset.

What followed was deplorable. After being 2/4, we went from 2/29 to 6/34, and that was game over pretty much. A really disgusting effort, and a disappointing way to notch up the first defeat in the National League this season.

16th July - Challenge Trophy: vs Hampshire (H)



In the quarter final of this series now, and after choosing to bat first, it was a reasonably shaky start. However, Casey and Khalid both batted sensibly, while Wilcox added the impetus. However, the base could not be capitalised on, as we were kept to only 40 runs from the last 10 overs.

The second innings was a fluctuating affair. Hampshire looked well on top with Pietersen and Key at the crease, and throughout the innings never let Derby get a few quick ones. However, the reintroduction of the pace bowlers at the 40th over mark saw a flurry of wickets, and despite resistance from Phillips, a good win resulted for the Derby boys.

17th July - National League: vs Kent (H)

Changes: Marsden in for Casey and Sutton in for Goddard. Both of these moves are to give a bit of rest to the incumbents. Lingham comes in for Sherbourne, who is off to represent England.



It was a really impressive batting display from the team. Pearson and Marsden both batted exceptionally well, at brisk pace and it was our best performance in setting a target in a while.

Kent had a real crack in reply, however they didn't get the big score required to chase it down. All the bowlers took a bit of tap, but in doing so got themselves wickets, as we recorded a comfortable victory.

24th July - National League: vs Surrey (H)

Changes: Sutton is out for the returning Goddard.



A really good knock from Jaques, however Khalid and Pearson made very slow 20s which saw us struggle to get any momentum up. Marsden continued his good run of form at the end.

Mullin's made a run a ball 60 and the opening partnership made victory unlikely for us. Due to some tight middle overs bowling, we had a sniff, but Rule's innings saw Surrey over the line, in what was a disappointing loss.

26th July - County Championship: vs Durham (A)



We were sent in to bat in difficult conditions, against a quality line-up, and Durham took full advantage, as we were 4/81 at lunch. The second session was no better, and at the end of it we were 9/169. However, rain took care of the rest of the day, and with the second ball of the second day, Nethercott's innings came to a close. He was the only one to show some backbone.

The bowling effort was brave, but it was as though we were bowling too well. Durham just couldn't edge the ball, as hard as they tried, and they ended up taking a big lead after the first innings was finally completed.

With Jaques out for a duck, things didn't look great. We struggled to 3/70, still 130 behind, but then Casey batted with aplomb for a century, and his good work was capitalised on by Clinton and Goddard, whom shared a double century partnership for the 6th wicket, and saved the game for Derby, who pretty much batted for two days to ensure that they took some points from the match.

31st July - Three Day Friendly: vs South Africa (H)

Changes: Marsden in for Nethercott, and Dean in for Jones.



Casey was the surprise packet early, bobbing up for a few wickets, as we took four in an entertaining first session. Lungley hit Pothas, whom made a century in the previous Test for South Africa, and put him out for 5 weeks with a broken rib. Hopefully we get a big grant from the ECB for that one! Overall it was an impressive bowling effort on a flat pitch against an international side.

It was a solid batting effort in reply. Pearson and Marsden were especially impressive, while no batsmen looked out of their depth against the opposition, whom admittedly have a poor attack by international standards. The declaration came in the second afternoon, after the dismissal of Marsden.

Puttick took hold of the third innings of the match and hit us around the park. His hundred was electrifying, while Lungley bowled really well for us, continuing his pretty good season. The declaration came with a session and and 23 minutes left, leaving us 239 to win. It was decided to bat for some form, and the easy option was taken in a match that had benefits for both sides.

3rd August - County Championship: vs Leicestershire (H)

Changes: Nethercott back in for Marsden. Jones back in for Dean.



An awesome first session from the boys saw us take 9 wickets - Razzak and Lungley both claiming three, as we grasped control of the game. Lungley wrapped up the innings, and by the end of tea, Jaques and Pearson had wiped off all bar 16 runs of the deficit.

The reply was comprehensive, and put us in a position where surely the only result was a victory to us. We had a lead of 373 with two days and 1 hour 23 minutes to play. The only negative was that 6 players got over 50, yet none were able to get past 70 - let alone score a big hundred.

A good response was halted when Jones took two wickets with the last two balls before lunch on Day 3. On a good pitch, Leics batted more how they should have in their first innings, but it wasn't enough to get them over the line. A comfortable victory to the good guys.

Ladders as at 7th August

Don't worry Vic, I'm reading it.

Haha, thanks mate.

I'll take solace out of the fact that it'll hopefully be good reading one day when I'm bored, and go back to look over it.

7th August - National League: vs Yorkshire (A)

Changes: Dean in for a tired Lungley.



It was slow going early in typical Headingley conditions, but Casey and Wilcox combined well, as we batted briskly through the last 15 overs to notch up a competitive score.

We looked in a really strong position with Yorkshire at 6/89, but Gale's one man onslaught was amazing. He brought the side within six runs, with three overs remaining. This included a 74 run partnership for the 8th wicket, of which Egan accounted for only 2 of them. However, with only two runs to get, Dean got the final wicket, to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

9th August - National League: vs Gloucestershire (H)

Changes: Lungley in for a tired and out of form Sherbourne.



A good bowling performance from Gloucs saw us restricted in our total, as we couldn't really ever get on top after a quick start. The middle overs really hurt, as a number of maidens dragged our run rate down.

On such a good batting surface, it was a comprehensive response. However, the Derby boys couldn't help but wonder if the result would have been different if Pearson held onto the chances provided by both Trott and Harris from Pearce, when the required rate was up over 6.

10th August - County Championship: vs Durham (H)

Changes: Dean in for Sherbourne again.



On a perfect pitch for batting, the side took complete advantage. Jaques batted really well for his hundred, and Khalid captured back a bit of form with his big hundred. It was the first time in a while that someone had gone on with their three figure score. Goddard also batted really well for his 75.

All the bowlers chipped in during Durham's innings, with Lungley taking the tail, Dean a couple of early ones, and Razzak being consistent throughout.

Again Coetzer proved to be hard to remove, but consistent wickets from Razzak, as well as tireless efforts from the pace bowlers, saw a comprehensive result in the end.

16th August - County Championship: vs Lancashire (A)

Changes: Sherbourne in for Jones.



This was always going to be a tough battle between bat and ball, and early on it was ball winning out. Lancs had us at 4/140, but a good partnership between Nethercott and Clinton, plus Goddard in tow afterwards, saw us end a pretty slow day at 6/285. Tragically, Nethercott was caught one short of a deserved hundred - he's made a bit of a habit of making 90s. Razzak bobbed up for 50 as well, as the tail frustrated Lancs the next morning.

Lancashire went about showing why they were on top in reply, with Hitchens hitting a fine 100 and they finished the day 3/257. Marshall went on with it the next day, and tail wagged to help get Lancashire a first innings lead.

In a little nightmare session before tea, Lancs took three wickets, and we were still 10 behind at the break. Resistance came from Casey and Clinton, however in the end it was Razzak's innings which held up Lancashire long enough to secure us a draw. In combination with first of all Lungley, and then for the best part of a session, with Sherbourne, it left Lancashire with an impossible equation for the win with the amount of time remaining, and saw us secure important points for the draw.

I've been following it, just not posting. A great story though, lots of good detail.

20th August - Challenge Trophy: vs Lancashire (A)

Changes: Sutton in for Goddard. Jones in for Dean.



After winning the toss, we decided to take a gamble and send in the Lancs. This backfired, as once the 20th over came along, and we only had one wicket, they exploded. Batty, Hitchens, Marshall and Flintoff all scored at a very fast rate, with Lungley going for 70 from his 10, and Pearce nearly as many. The only highlight was Sherbourne taking a hat-trick in the last over.

The batting effort was just as embarrassing, with only Casey able to hold his head high. A very disappointing end to the campaign.

22nd August - National League: vs Yorkshire (H)

Changes: Clinton in for Jaques, and Marsden in for Casey.



Yorkshire looked set for a big over, when once again the bowlers through the middle stages let the side down. However, after starting off well with three early ones, Sherbourne took four late ones as well, to cap off an amazing performance.

A lack of support from the top order was what really hurt the side. Already a batsman down with the five bowler formation, a slow start saw some panic, and it was only Clinton, whom played a fine knock, who gave us any hope. However, this came to nothing, as the side was bundled out less than 20 short.

24th August - County Championship: vs Hampshire (H)

Changes: Jones in for Dean.



It was an awesome batting effort after winning the toss. Pearson was out early, but Jaques and Khalid combined to both make hundreds. After they were disappointingly out in quick succession, Nethercott and Casey joined forces with another big partnership. We declared during the fifth session of the game, as the clouds started to gather.

By the break, we were well on top, with three wickets down at tea. Sherbourne had captured the vital wicket of Pietersen, while Razzak had an impact late in the day. Hants resumed the next day at 6/182. After Lungley took a wicket in the first over afte resumption, Razzak managed to clean up the tail, and allow the follow-on to be enforced.

In reply, Hampshire were very circumspect, not scoring at a particularly quick rate. The bowlers battled on what was still a very good pitch for batting, but success didn't come quickly. Most of the Hants batsmen got a start this time, but none went on with it. While the tail wagged, there was a bit of a worry about whether they could hold on for the draw, but that was quashed with two quick wickets, leaving Derby only 60 to chase for the victory, in more than a session.

Without the threat of rain, this was achieved fairly comfortably.

Looks like its going well mate. KUTGW!!