At 14:37 yesterday afternoon I texted my wife, Derbyshire born and bred, to say that her native county were putting up resistance of millstone grit quality and that Yorkshire supporters were beginning to see a draw as the most likely outcome of yesterday's events at Headingley. Less than two hours later, and twenty minutes of that had gone to tea, it was all over. The faithful had been rewarded, Jack Brooks had had five goes at his Tino Best impersonation (arms out wider, Jack, arm out wider) and Yorkshire had recorded a second unlikely victory inside six days. Feeling it was inappropriate to send bad news by text I waited until I got home before delivering a report of Derbyshire's demise.
The dismissal of Chanderpaul in the last over before lunch had very much tilted the match towards the white rose but a stand of 92 between Madsen and Durston brought us to that point where meandering became the word that best seemed to sum up the cricket on a lovely sunny afternoon. We had reckoned without Brooks who in fewer than ten overs showed the crowd why Yorkshire had recruited him from Northants. I am certainly not in a position to say 'I told you so' for when I have not been trying, and in the main failing, to rouse people's interest in the Japanese cricketers' tour* of the UK I have been eager to point out that Brooks had only 23 championship wickets in 2012 and those were in the second division and at a cost of over 35.
Derbyshire by the recruitment of Chanderpaul would appear to have invested heavily in the 2013 season but their start has not been a good one. Since drawing their rain affected first match with Warwickshire they have sustained three defeats and have only 17 points. Quite rightly they will say it is only days to which the reply might be, yes, but you have played 25% of your championship matches. This morning's Derby Telegraph says that potentially this was the most damaging of the three defeats. The Peakites will perhaps be relieved that tomorrow brings them a break from championship action when they take on New Zealand in a three day friendly which marks the start of their visitors' tour, at least for those who are not still in the IPL.
Yorkshire had begun the day with a ten over thrash that brought 80 runs with Rashid and Plunkett (and he hasn't had a bad match) undefeated when Gale declared and left them 84 overs to winkle Derbyshire out. They had over 30 to spare when Brooks had the injured Palladino lbw at 4:30 and sent the Yorkshire XI into a dance of delight. This match has set all sorts of records for batting but in the end it was just a few overs of fast, straight bowling that gave the white rose a comfortable victory, albeit one that had seemed unlikely at 14:37.
Somerset come to Headingley on Tuesday with a batting line up that bristles with big names but one which has not secured a victory in their first three matches. In the meantime Yorkshire will follow in my footsteps and head for Colwyn Bay for their opening 40 over match of 2013. On return they will have to face Somerset without Root and Bairstow who are with the England Lions. If things go well for them then seeing them in Yorkshire caps may be something of a rarity for the rest of this summer.
* Last chance to see them is in Edinburgh today. OK,I give up.
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