Three games in Derbyshire

Posted by Tony Hutton

Wednesday 31st August already, where has the summer gone? Not to worry, still plenty of cricket remains and today was a rare opportunity to travel into Derbyshire for the first time this season with the prospect of three matches to try and fit into the day.

First stop was  the county ground at Derby with a new look, for me anyway, with the new media centre at the racecourse end and the steep terracing transferred to the other side. A good view of the play as Derbyshire took on Gloucestershire in the first day of a county championship match. Good to see Josh Shaw of Yorkshire, on loan with Gloucestershire of course, bowling in a four pronged seam attack. Star of the day was another player with Yorkshire connections, Ben Slater, formerly with Leeds/Bradford University. His century was the backbone of the innings which rather fell away after a good opening partnership with in form Billy Godleman which put on ninety one.

The middle order collapse then saw three wickets fall quickly including the prolific Wayne Madsen for nought. New Zealander Broom helped Slater restore some stability to the innings scoring 36 in a 78 run partnership. Slater was eventually out for 110 with the score on 190-6 and the tailenders managed to cobble together another 52 runs in a final all out score of 242 which seemed somewhat below par. Miles had the best bowling figures with 4-30 of seventeen tidy overs and good to see some economical spin bowling from Jack Taylor, who has remodelled his action since I last saw him.

Derby's new media centre with threatening black clouds.

 

At tea time for a change of scene with Derbyshire second XI taking on Notts second XI just a few miles up the road at the very pleasant Copper Yard ground of Darley

cricket club. We found that Notts had been bowled out in the morning for only 84 and Derby were building up a lead on the first day of a three day friendly match.

 

Pleasant scene at Darley with Derby seconds batting.

 

Clarke and Smit, the wicketkeeper, were on course for a century partnership before Smit was lbw for 59. Clarke carried on to make a century himself in the warm early evening sunshine. It later transpired that Joshua Clark is an Australian from New South Wales, where he has played for the state under 17s and under 23s. He has been playing league cricket for the Derbyshire side Ockbrook and Borrowash. Greg Cork, son of Dominic joined Clarke to take the Derby lead beyond the hundred mark. Once again we bumped into John Abrahams on scouting duty for England under 19s and were able to tell him of Harry Brooks's excellent century at Scarborough last week.

 

Long evening shadows at Darley

 

Just about time left to squeeze in a third game being played just up the road at Marehay, a new ground for me. Fortunately had done a little research on directions in advance and was rewarded with the sight of MCC in whitewash on the stone gate post, with a track leading down the attractive good sized ground, the Maryfield.

Durham under 19s had batted for most of the first day of this two day match in the six counties competition and made a useful 307. Derby had lost an early wicket in reply and were trying to play out time in the final overs against a very attacking field.

 

Marehay pavilion with attractive flower beds.

 

As usual we found someone we knew in the person of 'Brighouse Dave' who had been there all day basking topless in the sunshine as is his wont. Another familiar figure was Geoff Cook patrolling the boundary as usual at any Durham match.

 

 

Derby under 19s defend against an attacking field.