Derbyshire v Warwickshire day 2

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Midway through the afternoon session, when the Warwickshire innings had extended way beyond what they would have realistically expected and what we would have wished, the window of opportunity for Derbyshire’s top tier survival was reduced to the size of an especially neat porthole.

Once the Warwickshire ninth wicket had extended to a partnership of 166 runs and we had crucially been deprived of the third bowling point that had at one point appeared a formality, a light appeared to go out for our lads and the early batting collapse was not entirely unexpected.

Defeat sometime tomorrow, if things slide rapidly downhill, or Friday if we battle to the bitter end, seems a formality, but we really shouldn’t be too surprised. After the first few months of the season, getting to this stage with a notional chance of survival was an achievement verging on minor miracle, but as I’ve pointed out before, it shouldn’t be allowed to mask shortcomings that will need addressed in the close season.

Where there’s Chanderpaul there’s hope, but we cannot realistically expect to get to 242 and avoid the follow-on. Even if we do, the Trent Bridge game is building up to one where both sides get maximum bonus points, which is perhaps not the greatest of surprises…

Let’s remember that our opponents were champions themselves only last season and only a chronic catalogue of injuries, together with international calls, has stopped them mounting a greater challenge this time. Weakened they may be, but they have some very fine players who look like being too much for our young side.

But of course, such things aren’t understood by some supporters, as nonsense on the Forum tonight suggests. Some of the stuff is frighteningly naive and ill-thought out, with some comments almost painful to read. It saddens me, if I’m honest.

Anyway, enough for tonight. Celebration time chez Peakfan, as our son has secured a terrific job today that has left him – and us – on cloud nine.

Shame the cricket score couldn’t be better on such a day, but…

See you tomorrow.