Cricket

BigMick said:
Battle to avoid the wooden spoon: Derby 265-3 against Sussex, rattling along at almost 4 an over, @big nev lookalike

Mixed feelings about this one. Always had a soft spot for Derby as the poor relations of the northern counties, plus I've lived in the county for the last couple of years. I know they've had a lot of injuries this season, with a small squad in the first place. On the other hand I don't think Sussex deserve to be where they are, or rather they've played better than their results suggest. Certainly in both games against Lancs, and Yorkshire as well I seem to remember, they were well in the game, with the defeats coming down to a lack of experience and struggling to maintain the level of performance over a full four days. Tom Haines would be in my County Team of the Year.

If Sussex do finish bottom I think most of their young players will be better next year when they'll be bolstered by the signing of Steve Finn and the returning Hudon-Prentice. Hopefully, it's a case of three steps back for one big one forward!
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It looks a very flat wicket again,so the young bowlers have struggled again today. The lack of experience in bowling in second innings has really hurt us this season,especially with Robinson and Garson not playing. Hudson -Prentice looked good before he broke his hand batting against Worcester a couple of weeks ago. The addition of Steve Finn next year will really help and i am sure it will be a great learning curve for the young seamers.
The club policy of prioritising youth in this seasons championship was a brave one but I think it has had a lot of positives.Tom Haines has been excellent and the performances of Carson,Ibrahim and Crocombe have been really pleasing.
As you say it is a few steps back but I’m sure with a full winter training behind them,next season will show a big improvement.
As regards the fight for the top,Lancs have done what they needed to do today and now they need a big innings lead.
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Need to get through the first hour or so without losing too many wickets. Won't be easy with bowlers of the quality that Hampshire have, especially Abbas.

Hartley giving Luke Wells out lbw was a joke after the ones he turned down earlier for Lancs. I actually thought it was out but it was a marginal call whether it hit him outside the line, unlike a couple earlier in the day.

I noticed from the live feed that Warwickshire have chosen a pitch on the edge of the square at Edgbaston, leaving a small boundary on one side with the rope well in on the other - handy for collecting those vital batting points even if the pitch does a bit. Thankfully Sibley batted for ages with a strike rate of just 33 - classic Dom.
 
Lancs 115-8 at lunch, a recovery from 47-7 when humiliation appeared to be on the cards.

First hour was a disaster with Bohannon adding only 2 to his overnight score before he was out to a brilliant catch by Weatherley. Blatherwick didn't add to his score, Vilas drove tamely to mid on for 7, Lamb edged to slip for a duck, another fine catch by Weatherley.

Luke Wood showed some much needed aggression - should be batting ahead of Lamb as he was earlier in the season - before he was caught behind for 37 - the highest individual score of the game so far. Bailey came in and played a couple of good shots for 12no while Croft remained 29no. Excellent bowling by Abbas 3-35 and Barker 4-38 - Barker was offered terms by Lancs when he was 16 but turned it down to join Blackburn Rovers. Returned to cricket when he was 21 but with Lancs hesitating, David Lloyd, who knew the family from the Lancashire league, tipped off Ashley Giles, then at Warwick, who signed him up. Very good, consistent player.
 

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