Scott's ton makes it alas Smith and Jones

comebackgatt reports on a truncated day at Derby. Only 61 overs were possible but in that time Scott Newman scored a cracking hundred and put Middle in a good position.

Arrived at my hotel at 6.30 Tuesday evening. Booked in, and went to my room, caught up with emails and then watched the second half of Middle’s innings in the CB40 match on the telly. Another disappointing result.

 Arrived at the ground about 10.45, just in time to hear news about the toss and team news. We were unchanged, but Derbyshire have included Graham Wagg for just his third game of the season, rumours abound that he is Glamorgan bound next season. Dex won the toss and elects to back. Overcast conditions with the likelihood of rain later I’m afraid.

Decided to start watching in the Don Arnott Stand, pretty sparse crowd, kept away by the forecast I suppose.

 Steady start form Newman and Simpson and after 11 overs from Wagg and Jones only 9 runs had come from the bat. Conditions were overcast, the Wagg and Jones bowled too wide in my opinion, and allowed the batters to leave too many alone. The openers put on 36 before Simmo nicked a ball that moved off the seam from Jones through to ex Gloucester keeper Adshead. That brought Ace to the wicket and he had a torrid time being beaten outside his off stumps a number of times. Sadly he didn’t last too long, caught at third slip off the bowling of Wagg (who celebrated in great style) for 12 and we were 55-2. Malan was next in and it was important that these two stayed until Lunch. It certainly was a case of digging in but well done to the two for sticking out against some good accurate bowling in the second hour of the morning session. Just before lunch, Newman was dropped by Derby skipper Smith.

 Lunch arrived at 63-2 off 29 overs. Retired to Media Centre and bar for a spot of Lunch, got chatting to a Derbyshire member and we had a long chat about what had gone wrong for our teams this season. He gloomily thought the wooden spoon was theirs, and said he hoped for at least a top five finish before the season started. He confirmed a rumour that I had heard that it was thought that Derbyshire had (or were going to) approach Ben Scott. I asked him about Rogers, he thought he wouldn’t play county cricket next season, but if he did thought Middle had a good chance of signing him, most Aussie love to play at Lord’s.

After the interval, Scottie and AC began to get on top of the bowling. Newman, in particular started to play some lovely shots. Finally, we are seeing the true player, and I for one, am delighted. I have been critical of his footwork against the swinging ball, but today he stuffed those words back down my throat. Well done sir!! The runs started to flow and he went through to a magnificent hundred, which included 19x 4’s and 1 six. The stand reached 139 before AC played on and was bowled by Durston for 41, 194-3.

The predicted clouds were now circling the ground and about half an hour later the rain started and off they went with the score on 228-3, from 61 overs, Newman 119 not out, Dexter 15 (which had included three fours) To be honest it looks set in for the day, Decided to return to the Media Centre and had a snack and a coffee, it was turning a chilly. Hung around for awhile, but most of the crowd had decided that was that, and at 4.45pm play was called off for the day.

 Scott scored his second successive hundred at the County Ground, last season for Surrey.Good day for the boys, and if we can push on to 375-400 it will put us in a strong position I returned to my hotel. Quick check of the emails and then had a lovely veggie dinner before returning to my room to do this report. Fingers crossed for tomorrow as I shall be back.