Match Review: Scotland v Derbyshire

At the end of it all, this was a potential banana skin of a game, where Derbyshire could quite easily have come unstuck. We have, after all, done it before against the Scots, the Netherlands and Minor Counties.

Today we didn’t and the reason was because it was a thoroughly workmanlike performance. We bowled well – the seamers better than the spinners – fielded even better and then chased down a moderate target with a degree of professionalism and common sense that hasn’t always gone hand in hand with the county, especially against this opposition.

I was very impressed by Mark Turner and Mark Footitt, who after early locking on of the radar bowled with good pace and good lines. Between them they took 7-67 in 16 overs, good reward for hostile bowling that the home side struggled to cope with.

Both David Wainwright and Peter Burgoyne bowled some good balls, but both were also guilty of dropping short and bowling wide, which was meat and drink to a decent batsman on a good track – prepared, incidentally, by Lee Spendlove, groundsman at the Grange and well-known to cricketers around Derbyshire as both a groundsman par excellence and a very good coach.

Who really caught my eye today though was Alex Hughes, whose spell of 8-0-21-2 was as good as it sounds. Of the runs conceded, only a misfield that went for three was more than a single, a remarkable effort from a young player who I think we will hear much more of. I especially liked his fielding from his own bowling, the player going to ground quicker than Jurgen Klinsmann in his prime to stop a number of balls. Such tigerish fielding was a feature of the day and Peter Burgoyne impressed with a sharp catch at slip and another at deepish mid-wicket.

The run chase never looked a problem after Chesney Hughes and Shivnarine Chanderpaul led off with a partnership of 120 in 22 overs, neither being remotely troubled by the home attack. Hughes played some typically bludgeoning blows, while Chanderpaul’s timing was exquisite at times, as was his placement.

Hughes’ dismissal came to a good catch, while Chanderpaul followed to a sharp caught and bowled, though both had done their job. Wayne Madsen was bowled playing the reverse sweep, but he scores a lot of runs with it and one has to take the rough with the smooth on that. It was then left to Paul Borrington and Billy Godleman to steer us to the win, something that gave me considerable pleasure. Both have had their critics, but they worked the ball around and, without taking any risks, took us close to the target before Borrington got a leading edge and was caught. He produced perhaps the shot of the day, a towering six that came just when the Scots entertained brief hopes of putting us under pressure

That left Richard Johnson to come in and score the winning runs, leaving Godleman unbeaten on 21, a similarly workmanlike knock, which was all that was required on the day.

Peakfan’s verdict? Professional, which was good to see. After two one-day games we’re unbeaten and go to Durham for tomorrow’s game in much better shape.

Thanks to Cricket Scotland for access to their media facilities today, that enabled me to post the afternoon updates. Thanks also to Mark Eklid and David Griffin for convivial company and entertaining chat. I almost thought I was back in Derbyshire for a little while.