By comebackgatt
August 22 2013

Comebackgatt reports on day two from Derby as Middlesex's title hopes take a hit. We also get a Derbyshire view, as well as hearing about a bus journey and vegan custard tarts.

Having spent last night watching the Kent Derby between Dover & Ebbsfleet (no love lost between those two I can tell you, Dover won 2-1), it meant an early start to drive to Derby. One of my clients, Simon a Derby member, had invited me up for a day’s cricket. I arrived about 9.45, given us time for a cup of coffee and some toast before we set off. Getting to the County Ground could not have been easier. Walk to the end of the road, wait 5 minutes for a bus and 20 mins later we were at the ground. Simon signed me in as a guest and we made our way to the pavilion. He has managed to see a few days of Derby’s season so far, seeing the highs of the last 2 days of the win over  Sussex, and the lows of losing to Somerset where “We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory” and every ball of the big defeat against Yorkshire at Chesterfield.

Overnight the hosts were 279-6, with Madsen 105no and Burgoyne 19. Simon was quite happy with the score. Madsen becoming the first player to reach 1000 runs for the season, piping Sam Robson who is seven short Both sides had 14 overs to get their third bonus points, Middle have to take 3 wickets, derby to score 21 runs.

Dial M opens the bowling and sees his fourth ball of the morning hit for four by Burgoyne but next ball the Derby man edges the ball to Berg and Derby are 283-7. Higginbottom comes in, Jamie Harris (who knows Finny has been left out of the Test team) opens the bowling from the other end and immediately gets the new batsmen, nicking to Morgan at slip without scoring,284/8. I’m delighted, Simon crestfallen Enter Tim Groenewald,  Simon remarks that he is a decent batter as well as the man mainly responsible for getting Derbyshire promoted. He likes to get on with things and he stays in we could see a few fireworks. The home team pass 300, and as predicted Groenwald starts playing his shots, 12 coming from one Murtagh over. The runs are flowing from both ends now; Harris has now conceded 105 off his 38 overs. 351 now passed and Simon well pleased. I mused why Dexter had put the home team in, has he misread the pitch, and he said that Derbyshire has batted poorly a number of times after been put in on decent tracks. Not before time Ollie Raynor was brought into the attack and in his first over brought the fun to an end getting Groenwald caught behind for a 49. At 351-9. The wicket falling two balls before the end of the 110 over so just getting the third bonus point. Not quite the end though as number 11 Footitt made 19 before TRJ had him caught at slip and Derby were all out for 385 with Madsen, not for the first time, playing a Captains innings of 138*.

Robson and Denly came out to face a few overs before lunch, Robbo got off to a good start, passing his 1000 for the season when at 16 (both his score and the total) he was caught in the slips by Johnson, who I was informed is a wicket keeper being played for his batting, off the bowling of Groenwald . Adam Voges faced 4 balls then it was Lunch.

We left the ground to have a quick snack at a local veggie restaurant, with honours to Derbyshire. A quick check told Simon that Somerset were 340 all out but had Warwickshire 55-3. He is going to the Oval next week for a relegation battle against Surrey.

Back just as play re starts, and in only the second over, another blow for the Middle when Joe Denly fishes outside the off stump and is caught at slip by Chanderpaul for just 4 off the bowling of Groenwald who is becoming a thorn in our side. 25-2. Turing into a very pleasant afternoon weather wise. I nip off for a comfort break and on return Simon tells me Warwickshire are now 125-3. Morgan and Voges start the recovery and once Groenwald is out of the attack, batting becomes easier. Things proceed nicely until the total gets to 75, when Morgan played a lazy shot to point and was caught by 15 year old Sub fielder Callum Broderick This is Morgan’s last four dayer of the season and it was disappointing to see him dismissed in the way.  Captain Dexter in next. We then tried to guess what we would make; I went for 231 all out, just avoiding the follow on. (ever the pessimist) while Simon reckoned on 300.

Dexter and Voges got their heads down as they must and took the score (not without a few alarms and excursions) to tea at 105-3. Voges 45, Dexter 8

We unpacked our hamper kindly put together by Simon’s wife, which included Vegan Custard Tarts, my favourite!!. He pointed out to me something on the BBC website saying that Warwickshire had given a 28 day approach to Somerset to try and sign Nick Compton & Jos Buttler from Somerset. Getting a bit like footie he said, I reckon a lot will depend if Somerset stay up, although Warwick have been known to flash the cheque book before.

Went for a bit of a stroll in the sun getting back to our seats just after the start of play for the last session. I felt we needed to bat right through to stumps without any further lost if possible. He mentioned that he was surprised how many Middle batters seemed to lose their wickets cheaply, something he is used to with Derby but didn’t expect it with a team in third spot.

Well my hopes of not losing another wicket failed, at 125 Footitt bowled Dexter, with one  that frankly didn’t seemed to do much. Skipper gone for 21, Adam Voges holding the innings together with 55, as Simmo joins him. These two took the score to 150 when Adam Voges was given out LBW to Higginbottam despite getting well forward to my eyes. Gareth Berg came and went, out for2 bowled by Higginbottom who claimed his four wicket.

Sadly Middlesex looked nothing like Title contenders on this display. However, Simpson and Rayner  managed to see things through to close at 197-6. Simmo on 30, Oliie on 22.

So another 39 needed to avoid the follow on. I’m hoping that they can do that in the morning, and then Finny and Co can bowl out of their skins and bowl Derby out for about 130 -140. Simon’s take is he thinks, if given the chance, Madsen will not enforce the f/o but look to score quick runs and leave a day to bowl Middlesex out for a second time.

He is really hopeful that they can win this one and go to the Oval on a high. Last season Durham looked doomed, but then won four games on the trot to stay up. Could Derby do the same?

Back on the bus, a quick meal then the long drive back to Kent.