Game ends in draw at Derby

As expected the County Championship match between Derbyshire and Surrey has petered out into a draw on the final day at the County Ground.

The result doesn’t suit either side as both are still yet to register a victory in the competition this season, with relegation looking a real possibility unless their form can be turned around.

We started the morning on 362-4, trailing by 90 runs, with Davies and centurion Ponting unbeaten at the crease. It was clear that there had been a chat before the day’s play and that we would try and set something up and force a victory later on as both batsman, especially Davies, batted at a high tempo throughout the morning. Ponting went past his 150, the first player on debut for Surrey to do so, and Davies also brought up his half century at over a run a ball as we took the lead just over an hour into the day’s play.

However, just as we looked to up the rate even higher, Davies was caught in the deep off Wainwright for 59. Wilson came in and looked busy, but attention turned to Ponting who was nearing a double century, but on 192 he looked for a quick single off Durston and was run out. An outstanding innings from Punter, a great way to start his 2-month stint with us, and I think run out was the only way Derby were going to dismiss him!

Shortly after lunch the declaration came on 563-8, after Wilson (45) and Batty (15*) hit some lower order runs, and our lead moved onto 101. The pitch was still a belter to bat on though and it would have been remarkable if we managed to roll the hosts over in less than 2 sessions. Tremlett started tightly but the other bowlers couldn’t back him up, and Chesney Hughes batted superbly to distinguish what little hope we did have of picking up a win.

When Tremlett was brought back on for his second spell, he removed Billy Godleman with Derby still 25 in arrears, but when they went to tea on 101-1 the game was all but over. Trem was kept on after the tea break and picked up two quick wickets, first bowling centurion from the first innings Wayne Madsen with one that kept low, and then bowling Hughes for a superb 68 to put a few jitters into the Derbyshire camp.

However, that was the last wicket to fall, as the captains shook hands just after 5 with Derbyshire on 164-3.

Even though the draw was expected it is still quite disappointing. These are the games that we need to win if we are going to stay in this division. I can understand that the pitch was brilliant to bat on and we lost most of the first day to the weather, but the bowling on the first day wasn’t the best, and that allowed Madsen and Chanderpaul to score quickly and put their side into a commanding position. And also today, where I know that it was always going to be a massive task to get a victory, our bowlers didn’t start well enough. Early wickets would have worried the home dressing room slightly and then you never know what might happen. However, that wasn’t to be and the inevitable draw was the outcome.

Next up we face Essex in the YB40 tomorrow evening Live on Sky before the start of the Guildford Festival on Wednesday. This year we come up against champions Warwickshire in the Championship, and even though they haven’t started the year as well as they would have liked, it is sure to be a tough task. We haven’t won a 4 day game at Guildford for over 10 years now, so now is the perfect time to change that.