The development squad’s first away game together and it was a long drive to Stockport for the return fixture against Cheshire.
The track looked like a batting paradise and stand-in skipper Kady Fuller had no hesitations in batting first after winning the toss.
Zoe Boucherat and Daisy Carter, a new opening partnership, made a steady start adding 30 in the first 9 overs. Boucherat picked up from where she left off in the last game and made great improvements in her batting. The hard work during the winter and all the 1:1 coaching sessions amongst the Derbyshire coaches paid off.
However, Zoe was the first to fall, and skipper Fuller soon after albeit a controversial dismissal.
3 down before drinks and Daisy Carter decided to take it upon herself to lead from the front. Trying to take the attack back to the Cheshire bowlers, there were some aggressive pulls and an extravagant reverse switch hit going to the boundary which left coaches Pete Boot and Lauren Tuffrey jumping in hysterics over the far side of the ground. Scenes that nobody needs to see again!
Carter, still trying to be positive, lost her wicket and that brought together Grace Smith and May Brown to the crease. Both tried showing much-needed intent as the innings started to falter. Brown however gave her wicket away by lobbing a catch to backward square, Ruby Nobeebaccus, in her first appearance of the season, chipped one straight to cover and after running Rachel Parr out, Smith did likewise to mid-on.
The innings closed in calamitous fashion with another runout as Derbyshire finished 83 all out. A well-under-par performance with the bat on a pitch that was there for runs to be made.
Kady did a good job at the interval and rallied the team, all going out to the field determined to give it their all. However, despite their best efforts and trying everything they could, the Cheshire batters knocked the total off with 20 overs to spare and 10 wickets in hand.
Despite the margin of defeat there’s plenty to learn and work on for the girls before the next game away against Staffordshire.
