County Cricket: Scotland v Derbyshire

Scotland won the toss and decided to bat here at The Grange today.

Derbyshire‘s side bore an inexperienced look but is as follows:

Chanderpaul, Hughes, Borrington, Madsen, Godleman, Johnson, Hughes, Wainwright, Burgoyne, Turner, Footitt.

The tactic looks like trying to blast them out with pace, but came a little unstuck when Chesney Hughes dropped a relatively straightforward catch at second slip in the first over. Notts trialist Matt Cross then hit Mark Footitt for two fours in the next, before Turner’s pace accounted for him with a routine catch for Johnson.

Footitt seems to be struggling for rhythm and has dropped short and been hit for fours on each occasion, but Turner looks a handful on a wicket that is never lively. Footitt got into the groove in his next, as Warwickshire’s Coleman attempted to hit over the top but hit a skier that any of five fielders could have got under, before skipper Wayne Madsen held with ease, coming in from mid off.

26-2 from six.

Time for new man Richie Berrington and Ewan Chalmers to rebuild the inning, as Footitt and Turner both get into a good, lively rhythm.

Alex Hughes replaces Turner for the ninth over and nearly takes a caught and bowled second ball from Berrington, who is living dangerously.

Footitt continues for the tenth and Chalmers, who never settled, edges to first slip where Peter Burgoyne holds a good catch in front of his face. Good cricket from Derbyshire, bowling in the right areas and backed up by a fine catch.

Preston Mommsen the new man. 31-3 in the tenth.

Footitt now coming round the wicket and his pace is disconcerting the batsmen. After an erratic start he is bowling well with 2-18 from five overs. 32-3 in ten.

At the other end, Hughes is bowling a steady, nagging line and length and looking a good asset to the attack.

Wainwright takes over for the twelfth over, replacing Footitt.

Good over from Wainers, nearly had Berrington at slip, just wide off the diving Chesney Hughes. 36-3 from 12.

Odd interruption to play, as Alex Hughes is treated for a nosebleed by James Pipe.

Just been off for a couple of chats, but Scotland have moved on to 96-4 from 23, with Mommsen looking a very good player on 42, aided by some short bowling from Wainwright and Burgoyne.

Turner gets the danger man Mommsen who drives uppishly to Madsen at mid off and is dismissed for a good 42. A ‘failure’ for the South African born player, who has made unbeaten 50s in the Scots last two games. Big wicket for Derbyshire though at 106-5 in 25 overs.

Change of ends for the two spinners and they each look better for the switch. Nice loop from Burgoyne, though Wainers still has as tendency to pitch short here.