Cricket

[Chris O'Connor]

The weather looks set fair at Aigburth for a decent last day with a potentially exciting finish in prospect. With Derbyshire who were 120-7 overnight after day two, finishing on 195 yesterday before lunch and Lancs closing on 312-6 (lead 336), there were the best part of 400 runs scored yesterday on what could be a wicket flattening out as the sun shines.

Derbyshire have already chased down over 360 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge this season and are well capable of chasing more against a far from experienced attack on a wicket apparently getting better for batting as the sun shines. Possibly then Lancs haven't nearly enough yet and they won't want to leave them something they'll get with ease. Maybe bat on for a bit then and give Balderstone the opportunity to hopefully make quick runs in an effort to get well over 350 ahead, possibly declaring if not bowled out quickly.

Tbh Derbyshire may have a go even at a stiff target and 380 in 80 may be the sort of target set if Lancs are bowled out or declare.

 

[BigMick]

The weather looks set fair at Aigburth for a decent last day with a potentially exciting finish in prospect. With Derbyshire who were 120-7 overnight after day two, finishing on 195 yesterday before lunch and Lancs closing on 312-6 (lead 336), there were the best part of 400 runs scored yesterday on what could be a wicket flattening out as the sun shines.

Derbyshire have already chased down over 360 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge this season and are well capable of chasing more against a far from experienced attack on a wicket apparently getting better for batting as the sun shines. Possibly then Lancs haven't nearly enough yet and they won't want to leave them something they'll get with ease. Maybe bat on for a bit then and give Balderstone the opportunity to hopefully make quick runs in an effort to get well over 350 ahead, possibly declaring if not bowled out quickly.

Tbh Derbyshire may have a go even at a stiff target and 380 in 80 may be the sort of target set if Lancs are bowled out or declare.

Yes I think Derby will have a go at whatever Lancs set them, especially after the change of rules, or possible change, the ECB made yesterday, after Essex had apparently qualified for the final, leaving Derby with an outside chance of qualifying. Will be good to see how the young Lancs bowlers react when batsmen are attacking them.

I'll be keeping one eye on Worcester's run chase against Somerset in what is effectively a semi-final. I hope they get there but suspect they'll fall just short. Whatever happens, Essex remain favourites to win the trophy having been virtually unaffected by international 'bubbles'.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Yes I think Derby will have a go at whatever Lancs set them, especially after the change of rules, or possible change, the ECB made yesterday, after Essex had apparently qualified for the final, leaving Derby with an outside chance of qualifying. Will be good to see how the young Lancs bowlers react when batsmen are attacking them.

I'll be keeping one eye on Worcester's run chase against Somerset in what is effectively a semi-final. I hope they get there but suspect they'll fall just short. Whatever happens, Essex remain favourites to win the trophy having been virtually unaffected by international 'bubbles'.

Tbh I'd be looking for 400 plus if we can possibly get that many - big ask to get 64 more but if Balderstone carries on in this fashion who knows.

 

[Blue Shoes]

Had no chance and so it proved, noone takes rankings seriously it was two nil when the sides were anywhere near full strength, but rankings are largely useless anyway as no account of home and away plus a further wide range of variables are totally ignored. Incentive and motivation are hugely affected in dead rubbers - they mean far more to the losers for pride usually, despite what the commentators say

The lack of any crowd negates a lot of the home advantage as to an extent does winning the toss every time. This was a pale shadow of a team they beat tonight with the guts ripped out of it. Denly did as well as anyone bar Bairstow but take all the explosive batting away from any side, and in Buttler, Morgan, Stokes and Roy they've more or less surgically removed it from this one, and you're left with a pitiful skeleton.

Perhaps lacking their real skipper and the edge needed when a series is truly on the line meant the fielders weren't quite as keyed up and as match sharp as they should have been. Dead rubbers can have a bad effect on winning teams, conversely the losers often can win them - perhaps salvaging some pride means more. Most of the commentators I've read agreed they badly missed their missing star players and it was, rather predictably a lacklustre performance, they were second best all night.

The batting predictably without all four explosive players looks to have suffered the most as Rashid again returned top bowling figures.

Yeah, it was a crap team so doesn't bother me, annoying that banton didn't take any of his chances, had a real chance to stake a claim to start in the world cup. The annoying selection was denly over parkinson. Are we only going to play one spinner in India, or are we going to stick with moeen bowling just the one and hoping he can do something with the bat? He does seem a bit of a waste of a position atm, should have bowled more, or if not, see what parkinson can do, we all know what joe denly can do!

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Tbh Derbyshire may have a go even at a stiff target and 380 in 80 may be the sort of target set if Lancs are bowled out or declare.

Danny 'Larry' Lamb on fire this morning ramp shots galore as he raced to 50.

Nostradamus my middle name lol
Lancs declare 380 ahead, Derbys need 381 in 83 overs, a reasonably generous declaration tbf.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Are we only going to play one spinner in India, or are we going to stick with moeen bowling just the one

Definitely play two spinners in India where Moeen will have to bowl four overs. The problem with Parkinson is he bowls the ball (his stock delivery) too slowly and can be taken to town at the higher level. He can improve but has been found out a bit and not deemed ready.

 

[BigMick]

Derbyshire 56-2 at lunch with two wickets for Danny Lamb to follow his maiden 1st class 50 earlier in the day. That was nice for him as he crashed carved and ramped his way to 50 but I would have declared overnight and left Derbyshire a more tempting target; it doesn't really matter if Lancs win or lose but seeing how the young bowlers react under pressure would be of more value in the long term, and there's every chance they could still have won anyway.

As it was Vilas declared immediately Lamb reached 50, setting Derby 381 to win. They lost two quick wickets with Lamb having Godleman well caught by Jones at slip, and Madsen trapped lbw immediately after hitting a couple of fours. Balderson bowled better to the left-handers this time but without looking dangerous. It was good to see him switch to round the wicket but he'll be hoping to bowl at a few right-handers. The two left-arm spinners would also probably prefer to bowl to righ-handers.

 

[BigMick]

Definitely play two spinners in India where Moeen will have to bowl four overs. The problem with Parkinson is he bowls the ball (his stock delivery) too slowly and can be taken to town at the higher level. He can improve but has been found out a bit and not deemed ready.

Agree about Parkinson and I'd add that for me he needs to improve his fitness levels as well. It's down to him and how much he really wants to play for England. I've known quite a few players who weren't that keen on all the extra scrutiny.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Derbyshire 148/8 needing 381 to win in another 27 overs (233 in 27) - Lancs on the verge at Aigburth. 3 for Hartley and 3 for Morley as Lancs close in on a great win.

 

[BigMick]

Just two wickets needed for a great Lancashire win with all the wickets this afternoon falling to the two novice left-arm spinners. Reece and Du Plooy looked untroubled as they added 98 for the 3rd wicket until Reece looked to accelerate, hitting a 6 and two reverse swept fours off Morley before the bowler had his revenge as the batsman top-edged an orthodox sweep to Jennings. next over Du Plooy missed a low full toss from Hartley and was struck on the foot in front. That brought the right-handed batsmen to the crease and immediately the bowling began to look more dangerous. 4 quick wickets fell, the best being Critchley, delightfully cleaned bowled by Morley.
It's the last day of 1st class cricket for Lancs and watching the two spinners twirling away in the sunshine has made for great entertainment and a good way to remember the Bob Willis Trophy.

 

[Tea_drinker]

I have a question about cricket that I've always wondered about. What do they eat at lunch and tea?

 

[summerisle]

Aigburth is a very good ground for Lancashire, an excellent win.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

�

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD	NB
GP Balderson	7	2	19	0	2.71	0	0
DJ Lamb	5.4	3	12	3	2.11	0	0
TW Hartley	37	15	79	3	2.13	0	0
GD Burrows	8	2	18	0	2.25	0	0
JP Morley	30	10	62	4	2.06	0	0
RP Jones	3	2	4	0	1.33	0

Impressive figures for Danny Lamb as well as Morley and Hartley.

Yorkshire finish top of the North Section table, Derbyshire fall to second and Lancs third at the finish. I'm not sure but doubt whether any at all will qualify, Essex vs Somerset looked probable in the final.

If Somerset win they will still maintain their record of never having won the championship lol

 

[BigMick]

�

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD	NB
GP Balderson	7	2	19	0	2.71	0	0
DJ Lamb	5.4	3	12	3	2.11	0	0
TW Hartley	37	15	79	3	2.13	0	0
GD Burrows	8	2	18	0	2.25	0	0
JP Morley	30	10	62	4	2.06	0	0
RP Jones	3	2	4	0	1.33	0

Impressive figures for Danny Lamb as well as Morley and Hartley.

Yorkshire finish top of the North Section table, Derbyshire fall to second and Lancs third at the finish. I'm not sure but doubt whether any at all will qualify, Essex vs Somerset looked probable in the final.

If Somerset win they will still maintain their record of never having won the championship lol

Great experience for the two spinners - I doubt they've bowled that many overs in a day before. Credit to Derby who battled hard after tea to take it well into the last hour. Lancs got through their overs so quickly that they would have had 10 with the new ball if needed, but Lamb got the final wicket straightaway.

 

[BigMick]

I have a question about cricket that I've always wondered about. What do they eat at lunch and tea?

Former Lancs spinner Jack Simmons always had double portion fish and chips. Former England captain Mike Gatting had a trough full of whatever was on the menu.