He probably can't see this post cause you're probably blocked marra.
So, as promised, superlative time.
Just had a read back through the thread and as we've seen so many times over the last decade - it makes for hilarious reading. The doomlordery and knee-jerking throughout Day's 1-3.5 make for absolutely fantastic reading. It's a pleasure really knowing the outcome
Not trying to be wise after the event, because it's usually me doing the knee-jerking!
Although I feel in some way I've turned over a new leaf, I don't believe I'm quite as bad anymore with the doomlordery, but then it might just be because I haven't got any expectation (of success) anymore!
The turning point was quite clearly the Harte/Rimmington partnership, but credit must go to Latham who started it all with a watchful, dogged innings. He saw off the new ball and blunted the Derby attack to some degree, his dismissal was unfortunate because the delivery was a snorter - lifting sharply from a decent length. Don't think there was anything he could've done.
Harte was MoM for me, his knock was quality, patient and gritty, batting for 6 and a quarter hours - literally a day's play - but also he deserves credit for the way he put trust in his teammates to survive. That started with Rimmington and then continued with Salisbury, who's run total doesn't go anywhere near doing justice to the magnitude of the innings he played. 2 hours and 42 minutes, just shy of half a day's play as a number 10, facing 147 balls, completely demoralising the visitors and key IMO in the end, as the 99 run partnership put on for the ninth wicket was ultimately (give or take a boundary) the margin of victory.
Onto the bowlers: on Day 1 they allowed us to find some hope initially, having not let Derby get away from us. Then last night they made early inroads to absolutely deflate Derbyshire. Today, they did their jobs exactly as was required to complete the win.
Salisbury's spell last night to get rid of the first two was class, the brute of a ball he got Madsen with was a joy to watch - then he set the ball rolling today before getting the key wicket of Slater to end any resistance.
Rushworth did what we know he can, what we've come to expect, his tweet at the end too was manna from heaven about how he loves the club. He IS the club for me and it doesn't bear thinking about what would happen if he were to leave too.
Rimmington is a very handy change bowler, I think we can rely on him to do a job for us as that - hopefully in Salisbury we've found an able new ball bowler to share with Rushy letting Rimmo settle into the role of chipping in here and there.
Finally, great to see Coughlin involved, great to see him taking wickets - said a couple of weeks back that he'd play First Class cricket this year and now that he has, I expect him to be in and around the side for the rest of the year. Exciting prospect anyway.
In terms of negatives, there are still plenty of things that need tweaking, but they're for another day when I get my flight back from Cloud 9
