A Derbyshire double

Posted by Tony Hutton

The belated return of County Championship cricket took us to the County Ground at Derby on Monday for the visit of Durham. Despite the rather mixed forecast, with much mention of thundery showers for the next three days, we decided to stay around for those three days with the added bonus of a second eleven game just up the road at the attractive Denby village ground, where Derbyshire seconds were taking on Middlesex seconds. 

Derbyshire batting on day one at Derby.

Contrary to the forecast we managed a full day's cricket on day one when Derbyshire batted first at the County Ground. We were delighted to see Chris Rushworth's party piece, taking a wicket with the second ball of the day, having Reece caught behind by Mackintosh. Ben Raine then removed Godleman in the second over and when Rushworth also dismissed the prolific Wayne Madsen in the eleventh over Durham were very much on top at 31-3.

Guest and Du Plooy, who have both been in the runs this season, came to the rescue initially and when Guest was out for 33 Du Plooy was joined by Harry Came in a partnership of 143 for the fifth wicket. Du Plooy eventually fell for 62 when caught behind by Mackintosh off Trevaskis and Gibson, the young pace bowler bowled Came for a well made 78. 

A sunny afternoon at Derby with the home side batting.

We decided to up sticks at the tea interval and took the short journey to Denby to find Derbyshire seconds batting against Middlesex. Following a late start due to overnight rain, we were fortunate to see a full session in the early evening sunshine. Derbyshire were approaching 200 with four wickets down when we arrived. It soon became five when young Harrison, who captained the county's Under 18s last month, was unlucky to be given run out. From our vantage point on the high grassy bank it looked a rather debatable decision.

Middlesex seconds take the field after tea at Denby.

The pavilion at Denby.

However skipper Alex Hughes and former Warwickshire spinner Alex Thomson set about improving the position, both reaching fifties before Thomson was bowled by left arm spinner Walallawita for a rapid 67, which included twelve fours. Hughes was a little slower but was still there at the close of play having also lost under 18 wicketkeeper Hawkins in the process. Derbyshire seconds closed on 326-7 in the eighty overs allowed in a slightly truncated day.

Derbyshire seconds piling on the runs at Denby.

Back to Derby for day two where the home side had been dismissed for 306 after Dal had chipped in with a useful 56 after tea on day one. Mackintosh who has impressed since his recent introduction as wicketkeeper for Durham ended with four catches.  Rain caused a delay in proceedings, but the sun came out after lunch and we had a pleasant afternoon and evening session. We were rather surprised to hear the news that no play had been possible at Denby. Durham made a good start to their innings with Jones and Dickson putting on 79, but when Dickson was caught behind off the accurate Aitchison things began to go wrong.

The lights were on for all of day two at Derby.

Borthwick and the Australian Maddinson both went for single figures and when Jones, on 78, was bowled by a beauty from Derbyshire's Nick Potts (not to be confused with Durham's Matt Potts), Durham were in trouble on 138-4. Bushnell got his head down for two hours, making 35, but only Trevaskis with 25 put up any more serious resistance. Coughlin was run out by a brilliant direct hit throw from Potts and the tail subsided to leave Durham 80 behind with nine wickets down.

Durham were looking good at lunch on day two.

Next morning (day three in both games) dawned rather damp again and hopes were not high as we set off for Denby again. However the sun came out when we arrived and play started promptly at 10.30. The comment in the club house was that they should have played yesterday afternoon and that play for the day had been abandoned much too early. We were able to enjoy an entertaining morning session of two hours ten minutes, before deciding it was time to make for home after lunch to avoid the early evening rush hour on the M1.

Attractive scene at Denby.

After some early morning hitting from the tail involving Ben Hutchinson from Australia, Justin Watson from South Africa and Adam Sylvester from South Wales, Derbyshire were all out for 381, leaving skipper Hughes 78 not out. Best bowler for Middlesex was Walallawita, who finished with 4-76, having last man Sylvester stumped by some distance. A bit different from our last sighting when he bowled just one ball against Durham seconds at Riverside, before falling down, retiring injured not to be seen again!

On paper the Middlesex batting order looked pretty strong, but they very quickly lost Josh de Caires, son of Mike Atherton, caught behind by Hawkins off the lively Sylvester and Max Holden, caught  by Hutchinson from the bowling of Watson. Middlesex 10-2 was certainly not the start we had expected.

Davies and skipper White got things back on an even keel until Davies who had been in for just over the hour was well caught by Harrison, high above his head at mid-on off Hutchinson's bowling for 23.

On it's way for six before lunch.

White began to look at home and helped himself to the last over before lunch from leg spinner Lawton, by despatching him to the mid-wicket boundary for a six and a four. Time for us to depart after another enjoyable session at this very attractive ground, which we have visited regularly in the past when second eleven cricket has been staged there. Sadly there was not a lot more play, the Middlesex innings cut short later that afternoon at 166-7 (White 52, Prasad 34). Yet again there was no play on the following day (day four) and the game was abandoned as a draw.

Rain also had the final say at Derby where we were able to watch the final stages of day four on live streaming, again after several rain delays. For the record Derby made 306 and 214-9 declared and Durham 223 and 176-5. Trevaskis and Coughlin seeing Durham to a draw with a stand of 70 at the end.