10th August - County Championship: vs Yorkshire (H)
Changes: The injured Jones is replaced by Lingham, whom was battling with Lungley for a spot. While Bassano is in for France. Bassano is coming off a ton in the seconds, and France has struggled for a while.
Yorkshire came out with intent after winning the toss, Marcus North going at run a ball for his 50. We kept on taking wickets before they ever got really on top, but it was the 8th wicket partnership that took the total from a win to us, to them being on top.
Hussey anchored our innings beautifully, and the others maintained the impetus of attack, and while it was disappointing that no-one else could go on and make another hundred with Huss, it helped us produce a decent score. A brave declaration, behind the total still by 71 runs, on the third morning left the game in a precarious position for both sides.
Clearly, after being dispatched in the first innings, set to atone himself by taking two poles in his first over. However, throughout the Yorks innings, every time we got a breakthrough they were able to settle, not allowing us to get the run on we needed to keep ourselves to a small chase. Gale, unluckily for us, had scored his only two scores for the season over 50 in the one match against us! With only two overs left in the day, Bridge took a couple of wickets to seal the innings, leaving us 402 to win, in one days worth of cricket.
The first session was a great session of cricket. Hussey stroked a fine half century, while Solanki and Bassano fell in the pursuit of quick runs. Casey came in and looked comfortable from the get-go, as the score of 3/159 at lunch indicated that the game had much life in it for both sides. The second session was no less exciting, starting with Khalid being dropped second ball after the interval. Casey and Khalid continued to play well, but when Casey and Pearson fell quickly, it left 180-odd to get with 5 in hand. Goddard and Khalid successfully negotiated the period leading up to tea, from where Derby needed 108, and Khalid was 104*, and clearly the key to victory.
Things looked rosy after an hour of the final session, and with 61 minutes to play, 57 were needed to complete the chase. However, with 38 minutes left, and 43 to get, disaster struck: Khalid, who had been clearly tiring and struggling to turn the strike over, was knocked over by Siggins, whom at this stage had taken 5 of the 6 wickets to fall. A wonderful knock of 143 from 206 was completed, and Clearly walked in to the cauldron. He was out after notching up 9, leaving 29 to win, in 29 minutes, with three wickets in hand.
Bridge was next in, but it was Goddard whom left next. This proved a quandary - with only Dean to come afterwards, do Lingham and Bridge go for the runs, or shut up shop and ensure some points towards getting out of the relegation zone.
It was decided that we'd come too far to give up now, and victory was the goal. 24 to win, 24 minutes left, 2 wickets in hand. Siggins by this stage had 7/66, a huge effort. Ferraby stood up the next over and knocked over Lingham. Only one in hand now, with Dean at the crease. Yorkshire took the new ball at this stage - another hurdle for Derbys to overcome. Numerous tight overs came after that, and the situation was thus: two overs left, 16 runs needed, one wicket in hand. Unfortunately, the bowling was too good for us to get close, although with one ball remaining, there was a huge appeal for LBW - which was turned down. An amazing finish, although both sides left unsatisfied, although few supporters at the ground were.