Derbyshire win 2nd XI Trophy

Posted by Tony Hutton

Thursday 27th August saw Derbyshire second eleven win the one day trophy against all the odds at the Riverside, Chester-le-Street. The start time had been put back to 2 p.m. as Derby had been engaged in a three day game with Warwickshire at Coventry on the previous day. It meant a long day for the hard core cricket supporters with the fifty overs a side game not finishing until around 9 p.m. under the splendid floodlights installed by Durham this season.

Riverside under the lights

However those who did turn up enjoyed warm sunshine well into the early evening and the slight coldness near the end was rewarded by a last ball finish which saw Derby winners by just ten runs. The visitors batted first and got off to a good start and compiled an opening partnership of 70 between skipper Durston and Slater. Both were dismissed in the forties, with Slater staying longer and playing the sheet anchor role. Chesney Hughes hit some powerful blows and just as you felt the charge was on, suddenly was totally becalmed in the sixties and was eventually out to a marvellous catch by Jennings for 69.

At that stage you still thought a big score was on the cards, but the middle order collapsed dramatically and 196-3 became 218-8. Only a final fling by Critchley and Milnes saw Derby to a final total around par of 247-8 after fifty overs. The best bowling performance came from a new member of the Durham staff, 19 year old George Harding, who is a tall left arm spinner from Leek in Staffordshire. He not only bowled a steady line and length but dismissed both Cork (another catch from Jennings)and Taylor (caught and bowled) to finish with excellent figures of 8-1-27-2.

So all to play for and something of a slowish start for Durham by Jennings and Mustard. The long serving wicketkeeper possibly playing his final innings for the county. He hung around for a long time but was then lbw to Critchley's googly for 31. That was the story of the early batsmen all twenties and thirties but nothing more. Macleod did make top score of 41 but they really needed someone to play a big innings and that never came.

Some hefty blows by Weighell brought Durham back with a chance at the end but when he was clean bowled by Milnes for 37 Durham still only needed 24 to win off 16 balls. The tail end batsman were not up to the task and when Harding was out off the last ball of the match, Milnes had finished with 3-43 and Derby were the winners by just ten runs.

Derbyshire take the cup

An excellent day's cricket for the modest crowd with refreshment facilities available throughout the day and a great view from the long room near the end. The floodlights are excellent and gave a wonderful view of the final stages, but I still feel that floodlit cricket is not suitable here due to the British climate and is much more appropriate for the southern hemisphere. More disappointment for Durham after the first team exit from their 50 over competition earlier in the week at Trent Bridge, but delight for Derby which was well deserved.