A Bigger Challenge: Derbyshire County Cricket Club

[MateGaming]

20th May 2019: Derbyshire vs Glamorgan
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Monty Panesar makes his long-awaited Derbyshire debut as the main spinner, as the sides switch their focus back onto red-ball cricket. Daryn Smit also replaces Harvey Hosein from the most recent Championship lineup.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Callum Brodrick, Daryn Smit+, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Glamorgan 1st: 302 (110 overs - Cooke 102, Lloyd 56*; Palladino 4-79)
Derbyshire 1st: 422-9d (130.2 overs - Smit 127, Hughes 89, du Plooy 72, van Beek 70; vd Gugten 5-115)
Glamorgan 2nd: 277 (86.2 overs - Cooke 68; van Beek 4-77, Panesar 3-69)
Derbyshire 2nd: 161-5 (52.2 overs - Hughes 46, Reece 34)

Derbyshire won by 5 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 21, Glamorgan 5
MOTM: Logan van Beek (Derbyshire)

We have a four-day win! This was a pretty convincing performance against a side who have started the season well. They made a decent score on an average pitch, but we bettered it, and the 139-run partnership between Smit and van Beek was scored quickly, putting us in a position to declare. We took early wickets, though were frustrated by some decent partnerships. After bowling them out, we started positively and ended up home with three overs to spare.

[MateGaming]

It can happen.
People told me that James Bracey was supposed to be good, but he's been a disaster for me so far.

I can't say I've ever used him, but he seems to hardly play for Gloucs in this save. Huge talent irl though.

[bryce87]

Nice write-ups they are very readable. Interesting to see you go from one extreme to the other! Good luck!

[MateGaming]

Nice write-ups they are very readable. Interesting to see you go from one extreme to the other! Good luck!

Thanks mate, this is certainly proving to be harder, although going better than I first thought it might.

[MateGaming]

27th May 2019: Leicestershire vs Derbyshire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

A far from ideal start to this game: captain Godleman is ruled out through injury and replaced by Critchley in our only change from the win against Glamorgan.

XI: Matt Critchley, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen*, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Callum Brodrick, Daryn Smit, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Derbyshire 1st: 144 (51 overs - Palladino 40; Abbas 3-26)
Leicestershire 1st: 504-5d (134 overs - Cosgrove 217*, Ackermann 94; Panesar 3-106)
Derbyshire 2nd: 368 (158.3 overs - Smit 91, du Plooy 72, van Beek 51; Abbas 4-67)
Leicestershire 2nd: 9-1 (3.3 overs)

Leicestershire won by 9 wickets
Points: Leicestershire 23, Derbyshire 1
MOTM: Mark Cosgrove (Leicestershire)

After our embarrassing performance in the first half of the game, we never deserved to get anything at all. However, a valiant effort from the middle and lower order at least forced Leics to bat again - Smit and du Plooy were particularly impressive, with van Beek more than useful with the bat again. du Plooy also took the new ball and struck with it, but, chasing 9, Leicestershire were always going to get home.

[MateGaming]

3rd June 2019: Durham vs Derbyshire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

After bagging a pair in the last game, Critchley drops straight out for Godleman, who is now fit again.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Callum Brodrick, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Derbyshire 1st: 302 (109.3 overs - Godleman 70, Hughes 51; Salisbury 4-91)
Durham 1st: 264 (85.2 overs - Richardson 71, Raine 59; van Beek 5-67)
Derbyshire 2nd: 221 (91.4 overs - van Beek 70, Godleman 48; Weighell 4-55, Rushworth 4-58)
Durham 2nd: 245 (75.2 overs - Richardson 61, Eckersley 48; Palladino 4-63)

Derbyshire won by 14 runs
Points: Durham 5, Derbyshire 22
MOTM: Logan van Beek (Derbyshire)

We gained revenge on Durham for the opening day's events, edging them out in an absolute thriller. Godleman continued his good form immediately on his return, though Reece was forced to retire hurt and so we were without his services with the ball. However, van Beek and Hughes stepped up to take seven of the ten wickets to fall, before our overseas all-rounder was impressive again with the bat in the second innings. From 207-4, Durham really ought to have reached their target, but lost six wickets for just 38 runs as we completed a fantastic turnaround to take 22 points, leaving us seventh in the table.

[MateGaming]

10th June 2019: Glamorgan vs Derbyshire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat first.

With Reece out for up to three weeks, Hosein has another chance to impress, this time at the top of the order. Taylor also plays his first First Class game since 2017, replacing Brodrick.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Harvey Hosein, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Logan van Beek, James Taylor, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Glamorgan 1st: 542 (133 overs - Cooke 133*, Root 87, Hemphrey 82; van Beek 4-120, Taylor 3-123)
Derbyshire 1st: 239 (86.2 overs - Madsen 75, Palladino 46; Rankin 4-57)
Derbyshire 2nd (f/o): 218 (83.1 overs - Madsen 39; de Lange 3-38)

Glamorgan won by an innings and 85 runs
Points: Glamorgan 24, Derbyshire 3
MOTM: Boyd Rankin (Glamorgan)

Another dreadful performance, just as things were beginning to look more positive. Our bowling was terrible, conceding runs far too easily and allowing Glamorgan to reach a mammoth score, and then another lack of application with the bat underlined how weak this side is. We take just three points from the game and still have a lot of work to do to try and finish in a respectable position.

[MateGaming]

17th June 2019: Derbyshire vs Lancashire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

In our next game, we face Lancashire, who sit bottom of Division Two (yes, imagine being worse than us?). Critchley replaces Rampaul in an attempt to strengthen the batting, as well as the fact the West Indian is in the middle of a terrible run of form.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Harvey Hosein, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Matt Critchley, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, James Taylor, Monty Panesar

Derbyshire 1st: 359 (146 overs - Smit 79, Hughes 52; Anderson 5-91)
Lancashire 1st: 222 (71.3 overs - Vilas 85, Panesar 3-51, van Beek 3-56, Palladino 3-67)
Derbyshire 2nd: 169 (67.1 overs - Hughes 64; Onions 4-47)
Lancashire 2nd: 12-0 (5 overs)

Match drawn
Points: Derbyshire 9, Lancashire 7
MOTM: Alex Hughes (Derbyshire)

We consciously scored slowly in our first innings, focusing on building a decent first innings score, at our own pace. Smit and Hughes impressed as we made a good score, before bowling Lancashire out fairly cheaply, though Vilas was dropped twice early in his innings. With the bat, we tried to attack more but lost wickets consistently throughout, as we set Lancashire a target of just over 300. Rain, however, meant that only five overs were possible on the final day, and the match ended disappointingly in a draw, moving us back to seventh, although the two teams directly below us both have a game in hand.

[MateGaming]

30th June 2019: Derbyshire vs Middlesex
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat first.

Thankfully, Reece was back just in time for this game, meaning Hosein misses out in our only change. Middlesex have a strong side and sit third in the table.
XI: Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Matt Critchley, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, James Taylor, Monty Panesar

Middlesex 1st: 215 (67.2 overs - Gubbins 63; Palladino 5-54, van Beek 3-44)
Derbyshire 1st: 191 (74.1 overs - Critchley 43; Richardson 5-43)
Middlesex 2nd: 160 (59 overs - Stirling 42; van Beek 5-57, Palladino 4-55)
Derbyshire 2nd: 185-3 (89.1 overs - Reece 71, Godleman 63)

Derbyshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 19, Middlesex 4
MOTM: Tony Palladino (Derbyshire)

A fantastic win against a very good side. We did well to restrict them in our first innings, but a poor display with the bat saw us concede a 24-run lead. However, we then bowled them out cheaply again, van Beek and Palladino bowling 48 of the 59 overs between them and taking nine wickets. Knowing we could take our time made the chase much easier, as Godleman and Reece put on 121 for the first wicket, before the rest of the top order saw us home.

[MateGaming]

7th July 2019: Worcestershire vs Derbyshire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Derbyshire won the toss and elected bat first.

We take on strugglers Worcestershire, a team who many expected to be pushing for promotion this year, but instead find themselves in ninth. Rampaul returns in place of Taylor, and Critchley makes way for Dal.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Anuj Dal, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Derbyshire 1st: 262 (98.3 overs - du Plooy 81, Hughes 46; Brown 6-64)
Worcestershire 1st: 154 (46.2 overs - Cox 56*; Palladino 4-24, van Beek 3-45)
Derbyshire 2nd: 216 (88.1 overs - Godleman 69, du Plooy 41; Tongue 4-69)
Worcestershire 2nd: 107 (41.1 overs - Reece 3-4, Rampaul 3-22, Palladino 3-32)

Derbyshire won by 217 runs
Points: Worcestershire 3, Derbyshire 21
MOTM: Leus du Plooy (Derbyshire)

We recorded two wins in consecutive games for the first time in this save, as we look to be starting to find some good form. Rampaul was impressive on his return, and, despite not scoring too highly with the bat, our bowling was extremely impressive and we now find ourselves in sixth, only five points behind Durham in fifth.

[MateGaming]

14th July 2019: Derbyshire vs Northamptonshire
Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

We return to the Pattonair County Ground in search of a third consecutive win, against Northants who are located just below us in seventh. Brodrick replaces Dal.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Daryn Smit+, Callum Brodrick, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, Monty Panesar

Northamptonshire 1st Innings: 399 (110 overs - Newton 65, Rossington 61; van Beek 6-108)
Derbyshire 1st Innings: 211 (82.2 overs - Madsen 78; Buck 3-41, Sanderson 3-51)
Derbyshire 2nd Innings (f/o): 316 (103.4 overs - Godleman 74, Madsen 73, Brodrick 51; Sanderson 4-86)
Northamptonshire 2nd Innings: 130-3 (26.2 overs - Newton 40; Panesar 2-33)

Northamptonshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 4, Northamptonshire 23
MOTM: Ben Sanderson (Northamptonshire)

A disappointing end to this round of Championship games. Despite conditions being overcast, we were unable to fully take advantage, and despite a six-wicket haul from van Beek, Northamptonshire scored highly in their first innings. We failed to respond well enough, and after being forced to follow on, a win always looked unlikely. Two new youth players have been promoted for the Vitality Blast: 20-year-old wicketkeeper John Copperfield and 19-year-old opener Bill Burton.

[MateGaming]

20th July 2019: Derbyshire vs Yorkshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

Our Vitality Blast campaign begins at home to Yorkshire, as both Copperfield and overseas bowler Stanlake make their debuts for Derbyshire.

XI: John Copperfield, Matt Critchley, Wayne Madsen*, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Luis Reece, Daryn Smit+, Logan van Beek, Mark Watt, Ravi Rampaul, Billy Stanlake?

Derbyshire: 114 (17.2 overs - Coad 3-25)
Yorkshire: 115 (12 overs - Ballance 46*, Kohler-Cadmore 37; van Beek 2-32)

Yorkshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 0, Yorkshire 2
MOTM: Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)

Not looking forward to the next month or so if they'll all go like this! We were well below par with the bat and Yorkshire chased it down easily. Looks like changes will be needed.

[MateGaming]

23rd July 2019: Warwickshire vs Derbyshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

We've made a few changes for our second game, with Reece and Smit making way for Burton and Godleman.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Alex Hughes, Matt Critchley, Billy Godleman*, Logan van Beek, Mark Watt, Ravi Rampaul, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 162-6 (20 overs - Burton 79, Copperfield 63; Stone 3-27, Brookes 3-36)
Warwickshire: 167-3 (17.2 overs - Rhodes 67*, Hose 47)

Warwickshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Warwickshire 2, Derbyshire 0
MOTM: Will Rhodes (Warwickshire)

Despite an all-time record for the highest ever opening stand for Derbyshire between the two youngsters, we fell short with no one else able to come in and score quick runs: batsmen 4-6 were all dismissed for ducks in the final two overs. Warwickshire were again comfortable in chasing our score down.

[MateGaming]

26th July 2019: Derbyshire vs Nottinghamshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

We make two changes again: Brodrick and Dal replacing Hughes and Watt.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Matt Critchley, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Callum Brodrick, Billy Godleman*, Anuj Dal, Logan van Beek, Ravi Rampaul, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 103 (18 overs - Pattinson 3-22, Mullaney 3-22, Rafiq 3-27)
Nottinghamshire: 104-3 (17.3 overs - Hales 45*; Stanlake 2-31)

Nottinghamshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 0, Nottinghamshire 2
MOTM: Steven Mullaney (Nottinghamshire)

Yet another terrible performance with the bat - should probably look at trying to bowl first in the future if possible. Qualification is already a tough task with three straight defeats.

[DaveRobbo]

Great story mate. Really enjoying following your progress, tempting me to start one of my own