Derby Day 4 - Not to be but not alone!

By Grockle
May 4 2003

So, we get them on the ropes but the weather doesn't give us enough time to finish them. The good news is we looked more of a unit and everyone else had the same bad luck with the rain so we didn't lose while others won.

We needed a dry and bright day of full duration to be honest to put this one to bed and we simply didn't get it. I don't know many who stayed at home who really thought we would get the day we needed.

Opening the bowling this morning with Dutch and Caddick sent alarm bells for me. With 60 on the board and no wickets down it was going to be a breakthrough that was needed.

Caddick got it pretty early catching Di Venuto in front of his stumps with the score on 80 and when Dutchy pulled off a second wicket and an early lunch as Bassano flipped a catch to Bryant it looked possible. But the weather had to stay away and Taunton was not giving those kinds of signs so it was pretty obvious that Derby would be worse.

Nevertheless we got into the second session and with McLean and Caddick reducing Derbyshire to 150 for 5 hopes raised. We needed to get them out for less than the 207 that would mean we woudln't have to bat again. The light was becoming poor but Afridi had gone (caught Trescothick off Caddick) and when Hewson became our West Indian's second victim of the innings 53 short of their target and then Dominic Cork had to retire injured we effectively had them struggling with 7 down some 30 short.

Sutton and Welch put up a fight but the light beat us, we were off, we were on, we were off, we were on and they wittled it down to 10 runs behind without losing another one and the game came to an end - abandoned!

But we looked like winners. Coxey got his eye in. Banger looked in control. Caddick took 7. A worry about why Johnno only bowled 10 overs in the second innings but hopefully that is just paranoia. Good to see Nixon and Caddick together.

No Aaron Laraman for tomorrow. Keith P will probably be in. Simon Francis may also play and Peter B will sit out - if we work from the squad they took up for the Championship game. Let's take this lot seriously please. Afridi will want revenge for 2002 and the home side will know they have been outplayed in the four day and will want to make amends. We want 4 points and to show that predictions that we will win NCL2 are not cloud cuckoo land!

MAN OF THE MATCH - Aussie Guy!!