From last season and the things we've heard in the winter and the early writings of Spring, coupled with the cider based debate of the middle of Saturday afternoon outside the Stragglers, we thing the one day side will look something like this;

1. Gazzard (to keep and open as 'pinch thingy')

2. Francis J (because they say he will - the stable opener)

3. Cox

4. Burns (Occasional Bowler)

5. Parsons (Occasional Bowler)

6. Laraman (Fourth seamer)

7. Hildreth/Durston/Andrew (all roundy kind of guy)

8. Dutch (Spin Bowler - possibly with Francis J if it gets 'iffy')

9. Francis S (Third seamer and new ball guy )

10. McLean/Johnson (Nixon for speed or Johnno for low run rate - Probably Nixon because he is less fragile at the moment)

11. Caddick (Opening Bowler)

I'm not sure about Wood's contribution or the number 6 position. Maybe they will neutralise each other. It will be fun to see what we get!!

Derbyshire NCL2

Well we got some of it right. Gazzard plays but so does Noddy. They haven't rested any of the striike 3. Both Keiths play and Frankie misses out.

Derbyshire win the toss, stick us in and then open with Dumelow the spinner (promoted from 12th man for the role). Burns and Francis open, slowly for a couple and then with the hammer down reaching 29 in 5, 57 in 10 and 85 by the 15th. George pulls away slightly to reach his 50 at 96 but Frankie J holes out oon 39 and the first wicket goes 3 short of the ton.

What is Gazza playing for? Well he gives a good idea with a 6 to the River End off his third ball. We have 114 on the board by the 20th. 144 for 1 as I report off 24 and a bit. Good running between the wickets and Gazzard chasing his captain as he moves into the 70's. Predictions range from high 200's to 350! Think I'll plump for the former.

And not far off in the end. 278 for 7 after a middle order glitch which started with Gazzard being run out backing up (deflected onto the wicket). Then Mr Keen - Jamie Cox - was run out backing up too far after only scoring 1. This brought Mr Parsons to the case for the first time in 2004. Everything settled down until Burnsy got "ton jitters" at 97 annd tried to force a hundred that would have come naturally. Up the wicket and stumped with 183 on the board and the last 15 overs to come - not sensible but a decent knock up to the daft bit!

Out comes Dutch - good to see him as well - but he goes LBW sweeping and 'Larry' looks good until he flips one head high to Welch in the covers. 226 for 6 and KP is joined by Noddy who plays a very positive role while KP goes to 50 off 47. Parsons then holes out and Turner and Johnson take us to 278 - possibly 20/25 short.

Good initial base building, excellent running between the wicket and a but of luck. A couple of incidents of losing the plot and some end of innings stability. Now we need the bowlers to fire. Caddick does first ball sending Rogers back LBW. Johnson weighs in with a maiden and Derbyshire have wobbled to 11 for 1 after 5 overs. Both our openers are looking better but still don't seem to be firing at 100%.  Caddy is a rhythm bowler and he may need a couple of weeks but Johnno's lack of penetration is something I hope to see the back of.  The good thing is that they aren't going for a lot.  Nixon takes over from Mr C after he has put in 4 and Derbyshire reach 40 off the first 10.  The West Indian is steaming in and Bassanno can't handle it and is steepled for 20.  In comes Dumelow to contiinue his major role and the fast bowler destroyys his wicket first ball - 49 for 3.  Hassan Adnan is his hat-trick ball but he plays it safe.

Never mind, Caddick cleans bowls him before the end of the 15th with 73.  They've struggled to 85 for 4 by the 17th when Laraman takes over...but 19 of them are extras, mostly wides.  Can't keep this up boys I'm afraid.  In this game it will be immaterial but others will be closer and we can't afford them.

Back from the land of dreams...Nixon gets his third as Gait is caught behind closely followed by Dutch's first spell of the season in the 20th - he goes for 1 run off his first.

It's three figures in the 21st and a real struggle for the away side and it gets harder when Dutchy C&B's Hewson at 102.  With the captain, Sutton run out (with a lot of effort one has to say) at 118, the resistance is effectively over and John Francis  gets a bowl in the 25th (how often will we see this in harder games I wonder?).  Laraman gets Khan LBW at 138 - he has put some pace on and his run up seems to have more purpose. 150 up in the 32nd, there is some fight it seems but some excellent glove work from Turner puts paid to that two balls after Larry tries an impressive C&B which he is lucky to escape from with a bruised wrist.

168 and it is all over as Dutch collects a drive back and runs out the backing up player. 110 run victory and it could have been more ruthless.  Derbyshire haven't got a lot of resources to play with.

Most of ours got their act together.  A good opening partnership for the batsman. Wickets for Caddick. Pace from Nixon McLean - blistering at times.  Good gloves from Turner while Gazzard did not look out of place in the role of batsman.  Some much better close fielding and a feeling of purpose.  Good openners from the two Keiths.  KP with the bat when we had a minor collapse and with the ball from KD to tie down one end.

BUT...niaivity from the captain when in a strong position.  Daft backing up from Buzz and a need for a more aggressive edge from the bowling atttack as a whole

It is not going to get very much easier boys and probably a whole lot harder!!

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