DERBY

By Brian Sanderson,

My self and Bob Procter decided to see their  first day of the Second Division  match  against. Surrey. It is my first visit this season and there had been some changes

The dressing rooms have now moved to were the indoor nets are situated. This makes it harder to obtain players autographs. The rooms used to be in the pavilion and the players sit outside which was easy to talk to player

The old bookshop is now a bar. It has now moved into the food bar so restricting the space for you to eat and now there is ropes  to the counter.

Surrey batted first on a windy morning and on a green pitch.The crowd was very poor even though some  P.C.W.   from Lancashire and Yorkshire were there.

Surrey started slowly against Derby pace attack which included Mark Footitt who has just join the Ashes squad. He is left arm medium fast and was the top wicket taker last season.

Surrey saw off the new ball before White got the breakthrough as Harinath edged to wicketkeeper Paynton , his first of four catches, for 35. Taylor had Ansari caught at second slip for 13 the following over, before Sibley was bowled  for 10.At lunch Surrey were 90 for 3.

We moved to a more sheltered spot for the rest of the match.Elgar,South African international, played fluently for his 44 but he skied a Durston ball to Palladino before Burke fell shortly after he was stumped by Poynton for a single of the same bowler.

Captain Batty and Wilson shared a 80 run stand before White had Batty caught behind for 41 , with Surrey 235 for 7. Surrey then lost three more wickets for just four runs to be dismissed for 239.

New Zealand  international Rutherford and Slater guided Derby through to the close on 64 for 1. Good to return to Derby but the alterations have not improved the ground.