A Bigger Challenge: Derbyshire County Cricket Club

[MateGaming]

28th July 2019: Derbyshire vs Lancashire
Vitality Blast North Group
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat first.

We ring the changes for this next match: Reece, Hughes and Palladino are all in for Brodrick, Dal and Rampaul.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Matt Critchley, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Billy Godleman*, Luis Reece, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Billy Stanlake

Lancashire: 94-9 (20 overs - Stanlake 4-23, Palladino 2-14)
Derbyshire: 95-2 (15.1 overs - Burton 42*; Onions 2-24)

Derbyshire won by 8 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 2, Lancashire 0
MOTM: Billy Stanlake (Derbyshire)

Finally a t20 win. Stanlake bowled an outstanding new-ball spell, reducing Lancashire to 40-5 after eight overs. They never recovered, with all bowlers impressing, including Hughes' 3-0-5-0. We were comfortable with the bat and got home with five overs to spare.

[MateGaming]

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

Thank you very much, I'd more than likely keep an eye on how you're doing if you were to start one. Glad you're enjoying this.

[MateGaming]

31st July 2019: Worcestershire vs Derbyshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

No personnel changes are made for this one, only a switch in the batting order: Critchley is demoted to number six, Godleman is set to bat at three.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Billy Godleman*, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Luis Reece, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 126-5 (20 overs - du Plooy 29*, Critchley 29; Brown 2-28)
Worcestershire: 127-5 (17.3 overs - Moeen 46*; van Beek 2-11, Palladino 2-17)

Worcestershire won by 5 wickets
Points: Worcestershire 2, Derbyshire 0
MOTM: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)

Really not enjoying this Blast campaign. The batting lineup is simply not good enough to be able to attack for the whole innings, we need to sign at least a few aggressive batsmen during the winter to even have a chance of competing in this competition next year.

[MateGaming]

2nd August 2019: Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire
Vitality Blast South Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Even if we wanted to make changes, we couldn't, due to the lack of batsmen we have at the club. The winter is going to be vital for recruiting players, as well as deciding on which players simply aren't good enough.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Billy Godleman*, Wayne Madsen, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Luis Reece, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Billy Stanlake

Northamptonshire: 188-3 (20 overs - Rossington 110*; Stanlake 2-33)
Derbyshire: 99-9 (20 overs - Cotton 4-12)

Northamptonshire won by 89 runs
Points: Northamptonshire 2, Derbyshire 0
MOTM: Adam Rossington (Northamptonshire)

For me, this match just sums up how broken t20 is on this game. One Day cricket has slowly been improved, but this just seems to be about luck, and if you don't have the players then you have no chance, no matter how good you actually are at the game. This competition's just becoming a slog now and I honestly can't wait to get this over and done with.

[GrahamB]

Go Derbyshire!

[MateGaming]

9th August 2019: Derbyshire vs Durham
Vitality Blast North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

After a welcome week off, we return to action against Durham, who have been about as awful as us so far. More tinkering with the batting order but no changes in personnel.

XI: Billy Godleman*, Bill Burton, Wayne Madsen, John Copperfield+, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Luis Reece, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Tony Palladino, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 116-8 (20 overs - Raine 3-17, Weighell 2-20)
Durham: 118-4 (15.3 overs - Bancroft 37*, Short 35)

Durham won by 6 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 0, Durham 2
MOTM: Ben Raine (Durham)

Just about had enough for now. Seems that no matter what I try, we'll end up with a bad score. Throughout the middle of the innings, I batted on just six aggression bars, just trying to keep wickets in hand, but it was no use: either I'm not good enough, the team is not good enough, or the game is broken. Think it's most likely all three.

[bryce87]

Just about had enough for now. Seems that no matter what I try, we'll end up with a bad score. Throughout the middle of the innings, I batted on just six aggression bars, just trying to keep wickets in hand, but it was no use: either I'm not good enough, the team is not good enough, or the game is broken. Think it's most likely all three.[/SIZE]

I can completely empathise with you. About every time I start a new career the FC matches are fun but the limited overs are painful. Derbyshire was always going to be a challenge though! I have started two career modes, with sides a lot stronger than Debryshire, and am having the same problems as you in both of them!

Like you said it is a matter of needing to recruit the right players. The end of season becomes the most exciting part of the game after enduring all those collapses and watching your bowlers getting thrashed to all parts! By about the third season I find you start winning consistently. Good luck!

[MarksNotts]

I almost feel guilty for suggesting you go with Derbyshire, its a completely different game when you play with a small county in Div 2, at least you have stuck to it longer than I would have.

[MateGaming]

I can completely empathise with you. About every time I start a new career the FC matches are fun but the limited overs are painful. Derbyshire was always going to be a challenge though! I have started two career modes, with sides a lot stronger than Debryshire, and am having the same problems as you in both of them!

Like you said it is a matter of needing to recruit the right players. The end of season becomes the most exciting part of the game after enduring all those collapses and watching your bowlers getting thrashed to all parts! By about the third season I find you start winning consistently. Good luck!

Cheers Bryce, really enjoying the FC at the moment, but just need to get these t20s over and done with. Really looking forward to the winter and can't wait to start being competitive with this team.

[MateGaming]

I almost feel guilty for suggesting you go with Derbyshire, its a completely different game when you play with a small county in Div 2, at least you have stuck to it longer than I would have.

Don't feel guilty! I'm actually enjoying this so far (t20s aside) and looking forward to improving the team over the next few years.

[MateGaming]

11th August 2019: Yorkshire vs Derbyshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Watt replaces Reece, with the pitch expected to turn.

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

Derbyshire: 162-6 (20 overs - Copperfield 68, Madsen 60; Coad 3-22)
Yorkshire: 165-8 (19.4 overs - Willey 52, Bresnan 32*; Stanlake 3-28, Watt 2-29)

Yorkshire won by 2 wickets
Points: Yorkshire 2, Derbyshire 0
MOTM: David Willey (Yorkshire)

An improved performance despite defeat. We could have easily collapsed at 16-2, but Copperfield and Madsen put on 98 together to get us up to a respectable total. Through Stanlake's fiery opening spell, we reduced Yorkshire to 36-5 and probably should have capitalised, but Willey scored quickly along with Bresnan to see Yorkshire home.

[MateGaming]

13th August 2019: Derbyshire vs Worcestershire
Vitality Blast North Group
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

We are unchanged after a more encouraging performance vs Yorkshire.

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

Worcestershire: 186-6 (20 overs - Fell 51, Barnard 48*; Watt 2-39)
Derbyshire: 141 (19.2 overs - Madsen 35; Leach 3-24, Brown 3-26)

Worcestershire won by 45 runs
Points: Derbyshire 0, Worcestershire 2
MOTM: Tom Fell (Worcestershire)

Ah, so we're back to our usual performances then.

[MateGaming]

15th August 2019: Derbyshire vs Leicestershire
Vitality Blast North Group
Leicestershire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Godleman has struggled so far so is replaced by Reece.

XI: John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Wayne Madsen*, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Luis Reece, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Mark Watt, Tony Palladino, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 82 (18 overs - Abbas 3-11, Griffiths 3-18)
Leicestershire: 88-3 (13.2 overs - Kerry 35)

Leicestershire won by 7 wickets
Points: Derbyshire 0, Leicestershire 2
MOTM: Gavin Griffiths (Leicestershire)

Another embarrassing performance, with only three batsmen even reaching double figures, Critchley top-scoring with 21. Leicestershire chased it down easily.

[MateGaming]

16th August 2019: Nottinghamshire vs Derbyshire
Vitality Blast North Group
Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Gleadall makes his t20 debut for Derbyshire, replacing Palladino. Reece is promoted to open.

XI: Luis Reece, John Copperfield+, Bill Burton, Wayne Madsen*, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes, Logan van Beek, Mark Watt, Alfie Gleadall, Billy Stanlake

Derbyshire: 142-8 (20 overs - Burton 39, du Plooy 28*; Wood 4-31)
Nottinghamshire: 143-3 (18.2 overs - Clarke 66, Slater 55*; Stanlake 2-14)

Nottinghamshire won by 7 wickets
Points: Nottinghamshire 2, Derbyshire 0
MOTM: Joe Clarke (Nottinghamshire)

Thankfully, we have another Championship game next, followed by just three more Blast matches. Nearly over with!

[MarksNotts]

Well done Mate, you are showing great resilience, I've just started a save with Durham so I'm expecting a lot of pain too!