On Thursday evening 4th April we were ensconced in our overnight accommodation near Derby ready for proper cricket to really get underway. As ever our season's fixture planning is already proving difficult, as both of the counties we follow were to be in action the following day within a few miles of each other. Durham were due to face Derbyshire at the County ground Derby, which has yet another sponsor's name attached to it, whereas Yorkshire were due at what hopefully still remains straightforward Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Derby got the nod for the first day, in view of the journey to Nottingham likely to be more busy on Friday rather than Saturday. The forecast was for dry weather, but with low temperatures and a cold breeze. So it proved, but we sheltered somewhat from the wind and remained outside for the morning's play at Derby before retreating indoors to the member's lounge later in the proceedings.
We could not have asked for a more dramatic start. The ever accurate Chris Rushworth, who we had seen uproot Durham University's opener's off stump with the first ball of their second innings last week, repeated the trick with a beauty which took the edge of Louis Reece's bat and flew straight to Richardson at second slip. A great start to his benefit season for Rushworth.
So 0-1 and two balls later it was 0-2 when Derby's main man Wayne Madsen had his off stump removed by Rushworth. Great rejoicing among the Durham ranks with President Ian Botham in attendance to watch the action. Derby skipper Billy Godleman and Tom Lace, on loan from Middlesex tried to repair the situation against an accurate opening spell from Rushworth and Salisbury. It didn't last long however as when Ben Raine, newly returned from Leicestershire, entered the attack he soon dismissed both of them caught in the slips.
The score was now 36-4 and Derby, who had won the toss and batted to general surprise, were now in deep trouble. Some order was then restored with the man in form, Harvey Hosein, who scored a century last week against Leeds/Bradford MCCU, assisted initially by Alex Hughes. Critchley and Dal also gave Hosein good support but eventually Hosein was run out for 78 and the tail disintegrated rather rapidly with Raine and Weighell taking three wickets each. 197 all out didn't seem too bad a score after the disastrous first over.
It looked at this stage as if it would be a low scoring game and this was reinforced when Durham batted. By close of play they had been reduced to 41-3 with two wickets for Reece and one for the new recruit from New Zealand van Beek. Lees, the acting captain pending the arrival of Australian Bancroft, was still not out and hopefully will play a long innings on day two.
So on Saturday a change of venue for us as we set off for the relatively short journey to Trent Bridge.
On day one Notts had batted all day for 324-5, with their battery of new recruits from other counties all making runs. Joe Clarke (from Worcester) made 109 not out and Ben Slater (from Derbyshire) 76.
Yorkshire's new recruit Duanne Olivier (from South Africa) had taken two wickets and soon added a third by clean bowling Clarke for 112 and then a fourth when Moores was caught for 27.
This brought in another new recruit Paul Coughlin (from Durham), a very useful all rounder. He stuck around to make a valuable 46 and Notts were finally all out for 408 not long before the lunch interval. Olivier took his fifth wicket by bouncing Stuart Broad first ball and having him plumb lbw to his second. So good figures for the South African, who finished with 5-96, but sadly Ben Coad ended wicket less with 0-96.
Yorkshire got off to a brisk start and Harry Brook looked in good form until Broad pinned him lbw for 30, made out of an opening partnership of 39. Lyth started slowly but after Ballance had gone for seven, began to play his shots in partnership with Root, who looked as convincing as ever. These two put on 82 for the third wicket before Lyth was out for 81. Things then slowed down in the final session and Yorkshire lost two quick wickets when Kohler-Cardmore (22) and Leaning (0) were dismissed to leave the visitors on 206-5 at the close.
On Sunday (day three) we were back in the slightly more congenial surroundings of Derby, where in view of the cold conditions the members' lounge was made available to all spectators, but still with plenty of room to watch the cricket from behind glass and the added bonus of an excellent carvery lunch available. On day two Durham had been bowled out for 171 with Lees (32) and Burnham (31) the top scorers and Louis Reece the best bowler with 5-47. Derbyshire's second innings had reached 107-3 at the close.
We expected wickets to continue to tumble and felt the game might be over in three days but were proved totally wrong (not for the first time) by some spirited batting from the Derbyshire middle order.
Lace went on to make 61 before being caught at slip and Hughes was caught behind for 39 both off the bowling of Harte. Then Hosein continued his run of early season form with yet another half century before Lees caught him at first slip off left arm spinner Trevaskis for 62. Then came the innings of the day from Critchley, who has done well with England Lions. His quick fire 50 certainly turned the game back Derbyshire's way with a vengeance. Number eleven Rampaul added to Durham's misery with 24 runs which took the all out total to 334. This left Durham the daunting target of 361 to win.
With domestic matters to attend to at home we left the East Midlands before day four, with both our teams looking in danger of defeat, but a most enjoyable stay with three days of entertaining cricket not always enhanced by the endless chatter of neighbouring spectators talking non-stop about the history of Notts County, Notts Forest and post war pop music!
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