if we're to get anything out of the match at Northants.
The only silver lining is Hants, our closest challengers, are making an even worse horlicks of their match against bottom club Leicestershire.
Realistically there's only 4 in contention for the top-two spots now, and matches are rapidly running out for our rivals.
Yorks have the most favourable run-in, with all three remaining matches against clubs with nothing left to play for, and two of them at home. Yorks have been the draw specialists this year, but are also the only unbeaten team in either division. Surely now they must throw caution to the wind and go for some wins, perhaps assisted by the preparation of some slightly more result-oriented wickets at Headingly?
In contrast our own run-in is toughest, with the final two matches against promotion rivals Kent and Hants. That does put our fate in our own hands though, as if we make sure we get at least a draw from those two fixtures we make it pretty tough for those sides to overtake us.
It's hard to see anything better than a draw against Northants from the position at stumps on day2, so that means the next fixture against Essex is vital for us. Win that one and we'd almost be home and dry!
We Need the Tail to Wag...
posted on 23/8/12
Sorry Wideboy - the current world record for the 9th wicket just happens to be the Derbyshire record.
In 1910, Derbyshire played Warwickshire at Blackwell - and Arnold Warren and John Chapman added 283 for the 9th wicket.
Here's the scorecard...
http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8158.html
posted on 23/8/12
I stand corrected OOE... I was pretty sure there was a bigger one. In my excitement I looked up the highest score for someone batting #9, not the highest partnership for the 9th wicket
posted on 23/8/12
No problem.
Many, many years ago I played for Donington at Ilson on the old Derbyshire ground - ended up breaking a flipping finger that day too from a horrible lifting ball off a good length.
Anyway, while I was sulking and feeling sorry for myself, I had a look at some of the framed photographs that hung up in the dressing room, and I'm sure there was one of the scoreboard taken at Blackwell at the very time when Warren and Chapman set the world record.
posted on 24/8/12
Does anyone know if they've done it?
Can't find anything on tinterwebs
posted on 24/8/12
261 i think
posted on 24/8/12
posted on 24/8/12
They missed out - but then Groenewald started smashing the ball around as Derbyshire ended up on 569. So Northants needed 169 to avoid an innings defeat - unlikely they would lose given what's gone before, but they are 37-4 at lunch.
Meanwhile, Hampshire were 146-9 against Leicestershire, chasing a victory target of 441. Nailed-on, you might feel. Latest: 305-9. They've added 155 to date for the last wicket and now only need a mere 136.
Cricket's gone mad this week.
posted on 24/8/12
Northants 103-4 now
Hants 314 all out, phew!
posted on 24/8/12
Well, what a turn-around. At the end of day 2 it looked like we faced a grim rearguard action to salvage a draw.
Instead, 4 down at lunch on day 4 it was Northants hanging on - ultimately quite comfortably.
However, Leicester have done us a big favour by beating Hants. The south coast club now have only two fixtures left, and it would take something quite extraordinary for them to overtake us from here.
So, can Yorks or Kent reel us in? Beat Essex next week and we'd make it next to impossible for them. Its a crucial match.
Come on Derbyshire!!
posted on 25/8/12
I think we should beat a Bopara-less Essex, there's nothing in that batting line up to worry us (bar a Ten Doeschate blitz ofc)
Big game, with two tough fixtures to end the season.
Come on lads!