Phil Jaques

By Gary Watton
July 19 2013

The table-topping Tykes have awarded themselves a day off on Saturday the 20th as they resoundingly triumphed at Chesterfield against a comprehensively outplayed Derbyshire. While the bowlers justifiably congratulate themselves on their 20 wickets, the loudest applause should be reserved for our prolific batsmen. The standout contribution was undoubtedly a staggering, unbeaten 275 from Alex Lees.

It certainly helps the county's cause when our captain wins the toss and elects to bat. In fact, as the subsequent cricket would demonstrate, this is arguably Yorkshire's finest summer of batting heroics since maybe as far back as the 1930s.

On this outstanding occasion, Australian Phil Jaques finally recorded his first ton of the summer and in the process he amassed more runs than his eleven compatriots were able to muster in their awful first innings efforts at Lord's. However, the fine contribution of Jaques was well and truly eclipsed by young Alex Lees who registered his highest first-class score, even exceeding the recent double hundreds of Joe Root and Andrew Gale. As a consequence, Alex's batting average for the summer has rocketed up to seventy and I felt a bit disappointed that he wasn't permitted the opportunity of reaching three hundred by a Gale declaration that was intent at tearing into Derbyshire's fragile batting line-up at the earliest convenience.

Meanwhile, after the three-hundred runs stand for the second wicket, Gale and the consistent Ballance added commendable fifties of their own, whilst each sharing in century partnerships with the unstoppable Lees. As a result, both Ballance and Gale also consolidated their first-class batting averages which are currently just shy of the sixty mark. Furthermore, Adil Rashid had to sacrifice his wicket in the cause of bashing quick runs, thereby bringing his first-class batting average down to a mere ninety! Yes folks: the prolific Yorkshire batsmen have been swarming all over the top of the first-class batting averages, thereby promoting their chances of winning selection for an England tour this forthcoming winter.

Eventually, Derbyshire were required to bat, having miserably failed to dismiss their visitors. In fact there was almost an air of inevitability about Yorkshire's dismantling of the home team's frail batting line-up. Having failed their first audition, the hosts were asked to bat a second time. At least Madsen resisted with a fine century, but otherwise, Yorkshire's impressive seam quartet were able to regularly evict the Derbyshire batsmen. Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks were the chief destroyers, but their colleagues all made contributions. It is also a measure of Yorkshire's strength in depth that Azeem Rafiq could not find a place in the starting XI.

Having subjected Derbyshire to the second humiliation of an innings defeat this summer, Andrew Gale can now look forward to the remaining six "cup finals" as the white rose go forward in hot pursuit of an historic championship in their 150th year.

Derbyshire versus YORKSHIRE; at Chesterfield; 17-19 July 2013; YORKSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 617 for 5 declared (Lees 275*, Jaques 139, Gale 74, Ballance 66)

Derbyshire first innings: 235 (Poynton 63*; Brooks 3-46)

Derbyshire second innings: 269 (Madsen 141; Sidebottom 3-27, Patterson 3-63)

YORKSHIRE win by an innings and 113 runs; Derbyshire 1 point, YORKSHIRE 24 points.