One-Day Cup: Derbyshire vs Lancashire

Tony Palladino’s efforts with the ball wasn’t enough

We were well-beaten tonight by a Lancashire side that seems to have the measure of us in one-day cricket, at least for now.

There was a fine effort from Tony Palladino with the ball, but the injury sustained by Tom Taylor left us a few overs short. Alex Hughes bowled tidily, but four fifties in the visitors innings left us with a big chase, one that looked a little too much at an early juncture.

The loss of Wes Durston was the key moment, so often an early innings catalyst for a good batting display. Scott Elstone hasn't enjoyed the best of competitions and the loss of Billy Godleman left us in parlous straits at 66-3, much depending on Marcus North and the skipper.

It wasn't to be the Aussie's day either and when the skipper went for a rare 'failure' on 49, we had nowhere to go. Alex Hughes did well for a while, but there wasn't a stage where we looked to threaten a professional Lancashire effort, with Wayne White enjoying figures of 4-33.

The run had to end somewhere and it is important that we regroup quickly for the visit of Essex on Sunday. The section is wide open at this stage and a first half finish is within our grasp.

It does appear that there might be a couple of changes for Sunday though, unless Taylor's injury recovers in time and Scott Elstone finds his mojo in the nets. As a brilliant fielder and fast scorer there's a lot of merit in his place at number three, but he's in a bad trot just now, like all cricketers experience from time to time.

Down but not disheartened, then.

But with much work to do.