Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Fixtures

Our Sponsors/Partners

Links

Job Vacancies

Roary Royal on Facebook

Worcestershire CCC v Derbyshire CCC

LV= County Championship
Mon 17th - Thurs 20th May

Articles & Reports

Match Report
Day 1.
Worcestershire had a good day with the bat on the first day of the Championship match against Derbyshire at New Road, finishing the day in a strong position on 376-3.

With Moeen Ali unavailable due to a call up to the England Lions side James Cameron made his First Class debut after a string of good performances in one day competitions this season. Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat first.

Phil Jaques and Daryl Mitchell saw off the new ball in sometimes testing conditions, especially against some accurate bowling by Steffan Jones for Derbyshire. However the opening pair dug in and were both there at lunch with the score on 115-0.

After lunch both openers looked to up the run rate, with Jaques in particular looking in fine form. He was obviously disappointed to play onto his stumps off the bowling of Tom Lungley when on 92, just short of his deserved century after an opening partnership of 167.

With Mitchell looking secure at one end Vikram Solanki looked to play at his fluent best and looked well set on 42 before being run out as the non-striker by Tim Groenewald just before tea after a 2nd wicket partnership of 76 with Mitchell.

Worcestershire reached tea with the score on 254-2. Mitchell reached his century with the third ball after tea. He was the only wicket to fall in the evening session, bowled for 148 after an innings lasting 260 deliveries and containing 17 boundaries.

Alexei Kervezee and Mitchell completed a 3rd wicket stand of 114 to allow the home side post a very good total on the first day. Steffan Jones was probably the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with economical figures of 0-56 from 20 overs.

By the close of play Worcestershire reached 376-3 with Kervezee on 66*, hoping to complete his maiden First Class century on the second day.

Close of play Day 1: Worcestershire 376-3 (96 overs).
=============================================================
Day 2:
Alexei Kervezee scored his maiden First Class century in fine style as Worcestershire remained in control of the Championship fixture at New Road against Derbyshire.

The home side continued to dominate the bowling to reach 559-8 off 142 overs before declaring mid way in through the afternoon session. The morning session saw Kervezee complete his century in 150 deliveries containing some magnificent cover drives. He went on to make 130 before being caught by Robin Peterson off the bowling of Tom Lungley in the first over of a return spell.

A 7th wicket stand stretching either side of the lunch interval of 67 between Gareth Andrew (33) and Ben Scott (40*) helped the home side to set the largest total seen in Division 2 so far this season. Robin Peterson bowled a total of 47 overs for Derbyshire finishing with figures of 4-170.

In reply Derbyshire lost two wickets just before tea off the bowling of Richard Jones. Apart from Chris Rogers none of the Derbyshire batsman looked particularly comfortable against the Worcestershire pace attack. Chris Rogers was the key wicket and looked well set on 50 before being well caught low down at 2nd slip by Daryl Mitchell off the bowling of Alan Richardson.

The seam attack worked well as a team with two wickets for Richardson, one for Jack Shantry in a particular economical spell of 1-19 from 12 overs and three wickets for Richard Jones. With five of the wickets going to slip fielders or keeper.

Derbyshire were soon in trouble at 108-6 but an unbeaten 7th wicket stand of 30 took them to the close of play with Robin Peterson on 34*.

Close of Play Day 2: Worcestershire 559-8 dec. Derbyshire 138-6.
=============================================================
Day 3:
A fine rear guard batting display by Steffan Jones helped Derbyshire ensure the Championship match went into the final day and Worcestershire were made to work hard for every wicket.

In the morning session Derbyshire looked determined to make life as difficult as possible for the home side. Robin Peterson batted well for his 46 before being first man out in the day caught at slip by Daryl Mitchell; after being deflected off Vikram Solanki. Two more wickets fell fairly quickly to leave Derbyshire on 172-9 but any hopes of wrapping the innings up quickly were soon dashed by some confident stroke play by the number 11, Steffan Jones who wasted no time in playing his shots. He reached 50 in just 36 balls and safely saw Derbyshire to lunch on 265-9.

After the break Jones continued where he left off, ably assisted by Tim Groenewald (35*). In total the last wicket stand lasted just over 21 overs for 123 runs which earnt the visitors two batting bonus points as well. Jones was eventually caught for 86 by James Cameron off the bowling of Gareth Andrew after an innings of 70 deliveries that contained 15 fours and 1 six.

Derbyshire were all out for 295, still 264 runs behind Worcestershire which allowed the home side to enforce the follow on.

In the 2nd innings the Derbyshire batsmen looked more comfortable against the Worcestershire bowlers. Only three wickets fell before the close of play, two of them to sharp catches in the gully by Phil Jaques. Adam Shantry was economical with 1-39 from 11overs, as was Alan Richardson with 0-32 from 13 overs. James Cameron had his first bowl in First Class cricket and finished with figures of 0-14 in 8 overs.

By the close of play Greg Smith (54*) and Gary Park (34*) saw Derbyshire safely to 183-3 with a unbeaten 79 run stand.

Early wickets will be required on the final day by Worcestershire to prevent Derbyshire gaining any sort of lead with the deficit at just 81 runs.

Close of Play Day 3: Worcestershire 559. Derbyshire 295 & 183-3 (following-on).
=============================================================
Day 4.
A determined and dogged batting display by Derbyshire ensured Worcestershire had to work very hard to earn their victory in the Championship match at New Road.

With Derbyshire on 183-3 at the start of the day the home side had to take early wickets to ensure that Derbyshire did not gain a substantial lead and potentially save the game. Richard Jones picked up the first wicket of the day, that of Greg Smith for 64. A couple of 40 run stands ensured that Worcestershire would have to bat again.

Just before lunch Worcestershire appeared to make a break through with the the new ball in taking 2 quick wickets in the space of two overs to leave the visitors on 279-7 by the lunch break but with Gary Park unbeaten on 66 and looking very comfortable at the crease.

The Worcestershire bowlers worked well as team in rotation but with solid defence and a good pitch wickets would always be difficult to obtain. The perseverance paid off in the end but only after some patient batting, most notably from Gary Park.

Gary Park was still that at the end of the innings unbeaten on 124* after innings lasting over six hours providing stiff resistance. Derbyshire were eventually dismissed for a hard fought 389 after batting for 121 overs to take the game to the tea interval with Alan Richardson picking up the final wicket that of Steffan Jones caught at the wicket by Ben Scott for 21. All the main bowlers picked up wickets with Gareth Andrew taking 3-61 in his 19 overs, taking a wicket in each spell he bowled. As in the first innings both Alan Richardson and Jack Shantry were economical in their bowling with figures of 2-82 from 31 overs and 2-57 from 19 overs respectively.

This left Worcestershire needing 126 to win from a minimum of 30 overs remaining in the day.

Phil Jaques was in no mood to hang around and wasted no time in chasing down the target practically single handed with an impressive 94 in just 57 deliveries. The total included 19 boundaries and was only caught at the very end of the innings trying for the boundary six which would have brought his century. The home side reached their target with the loss of only two wickets with just over 14 overs to spare.

Result: Worcestershire (559-8 dec. & 126-2) beat Derbyshire (295 & 389) by 8 wickets. Worcestershire 24 points. Derbyshire 3 points.
=============================================================

Alternative articles and match reports on Worcestershire County Cricket Club maybe found on the links below.

ECB LV = County Championship Reports