50 Over Mad Week

Yorkshire Vikings 239-6 from 42 overs
beat Derbyshire Falcons 189-9 from 29 overs
by 7 runs (DL method)

Royal London One Day Cup
County Ground Derby

Monday 27 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

So, we’re now in this mad white ball 50 over window. Yorkshire play 7 games in 11 days. Other Counties similar. I’m not really sure what that achieves. It reduces the number of Counties from 18 to 8. But, it is NOT the sense of event/occasion that will bring “new” punters in. It is another day, another game, writ large. There is a Test Match starting Wednesday, so it doesn’t really put cricket centre stage. Today’s game was scheduled to be televised, but was knocked off by a Women’s Ashes rescheduling. It all seems a bit afterthought shoehorning.

And, we had some weather in Derby. AFTER we had left the Pub mind. We got up there to find the start time had still not been determined. A 90 minute delay. But no work on the outfield in that time. Get On With It was the crowd’s motto. I think it was as simple as - been lots of rain, outfield wet, no sun, little wind, poor drying conditions.

So, it was 42 overs for Yorkshire, then more rain, so 29 overs for Derbyshire with a reduced target. It nominally went to the last few balls. Although the Vikes were never fully in control, it was looking moody for The Falcons from a little way out. They finished with 9 down.

Me, I’m pleased to see Yorkshire come out of that. Get over the Line. It has been poor in T20 white ball & rained off at Scarborough in the first 50. The kids have gone back to school (time being). It was the full weight top order. And the pace attack (no Sidebottom of course). Risky not having a spinner. Rhodes/Maxwell fiddled the 5th bowler behind Brooks, Plunkett, Bresnan & Patto. Wickets mattered, slowed things down, brought some control - so Brook & patterson with 3 each looked the pick.

It felt like the batting never really got going. But, the Stats don’t look too bad. Scores for Gale, Ballance & Leaning.

We’re out of the T20, riding high in the Champo. This time next week, we’ll no much more about our 50 over chances - and where our fuller season is going.

A revamped (to me) Members Lounge at Derby. Seemed bigger, brighter, modern/functional. And, haven’t they gone Green King IPA branding rather than Speckled Hen (it used to be Marstons). I’m pretty sure there was NO cask ale anywhere in the ground.

With a 1400 start, on a Monday, we had to take our drink where we could get it. Which was the still excellent The Tap (Derby Brewing Co.).  Guests from Timmy Taylor & Burton Bridge on. And deep into their own range as well.

I went;

Derby Brewing Co., Dashingly Dark on cask at 4.8%
Derby Brewing Co., One Hop on cask at 4.6%

The One Hop was interesting. Many of “those types” seem to be identikit Blondes with newer hops. This one was decidedly amber with Golding. It tasted lovely at first. But, down the glass, it got less interesting & a bit “samey”.

175/370