DERBYSHIRE PHANTOMS V SURREY LIONS at Derby (TSL2), 4 SEPTEMBER 2005

Derbyshire may still be searching for their first championship win of the year, but they go into tomorrow’s fixture on a four-game winning streak in the totesport League. The travelling Lions, on the other hand, have lost their last two. Historically, the Phantoms also hold sway over the Oval outfit, having won three out of the last four one-day meetings between these two sides.

With 749 runs at an average of 49.93 in List A cricket this term, 31-year-old Tasmanian opener Michael Di Venuto is the obvious danger with the bat and all-rounder Graeme Welch has a habit of chipping in with useful 20 and 30 not outs. Sandwiched in-between is the solidity of Steve Stubbings - who made a career best equalling 98 in the corresponding fixture at the Oval in July - and Aussie import Jon Moss.

The wickets have tended to go to Derbyshire’s 28-year-old slow-left-armer Ant Botha - 24 victims at 23.83 runs apiece in List A - as well as Moss; but the joker in the Phantoms’ pack has been the parsimonious Mo Sheikh, who currently boasts an economy rate of 2.96. To put that into context, nobody is the country to have sent down thirty overs or more in limited-overs cricket has a better economy rate. Notably, third on the list is Surrey’s Martin Bicknell, who may not see action again this season due to a torn Achilles tendon.

Of all of Surrey’s 17 first-class opponents Derbyshire are the county against whom Alistair Brown has his worst one-day career average - 21.66 over 15 innings. Oh dear!


Interestingly, five out of the last six meetings between these two sides have gone to the side batting second. The exception being when Derbyshire made mincemeat of Surrey in the C&G Trophy two years ago. But the form book says that despite pushing the Sharks close the other night, the Lions' are still not purring with much content. So, it could well mean another long journey home for those on the Supporters' Club coach!


With Jimmy Ormond aiming to be fit for next weekend's championship trip to Edgbaston, it will almost certainly be a case of how you were. Only if the wicket at Derby looks like taking spin will Ian Salisbury come into the side on the strength of his showing in the 2nd XI win over Middlesex at Southgate - the stiffs' third victory in four. Not a bad way to round-off the season.


M Di Venuto, S Stubbings, J Moss, L Sutton (capt, wk), T Friend, G Welch, A Botha, T Lungley, M Sheikh, A Gray and I Hunter.

DATE COMP RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY DERBYS
17 Jul 2005 NL Lost By 5 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 260-8 (45) 264-5 (39.2)
11 Jun 2003 C&G Lost By 137 Runs Derby Surrey Field 134 (33.4) 271 (50)
2 Sep 2002 NL Won By 1 Wicket Derby Derbyshire Bat 214-9 (44.4) 213 (45)
18 Aug 2002 NL Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 190 (44.4) 193-6 (38.5)
20 Aug 2000 NL Won By 6 Wickets The Oval Derbyshire Bat 176-4 (44) 175-9 (45)
11 Jun 2000 NL Won By 3 Wickets Derby Surrey Field 198-7 (42) 197-9 (45)
4 Jul 1999 NL Won By 64 Runs Derby Surrey Bat 238-9 (45) 174 (41.4)
31 May 1999 NL Lost By 6 Wickets The Oval Derbyshire Field 153 (44.1) 154-4 (39.5)
5 Aug 1998 NL Lost By 28 Runs The Oval Surrey Field 217 (39.3) 245-7 (40)
28 Jul 1998 NWT Lost By 5 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 217-7 (60) 218-5 (54.5)
11 May 1997 NL No Result Derby No toss made - - -
2 Jun 1996 NL Won By 50 Runs The Oval Derbyshire Field 221-6 (40) 171 (36.5)
27 Aug 1995 NL Lost (Scoring Rate) Derby Derbyshire Field 269-7 (40) 251-7 (34.5)
15 May 1994 NL Won By 6 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 253-4 (36.1) 247-3 (40)
22 Aug 1993 NL Won By 5 Wickets Ilkeston Surrey Field 203-5 (45.1) 201 (45.4)
12 Jul 1992 NL Won By 3 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 212-7 (39.3) 208-8 (40)
9 Jun 1991 NL Won (Scoring Rate) Chesterfield Derbyshire Field 223-9 (40) 120-1 (23)
24 Jun 1990 NL Lost By 3 Wickets The Oval Derbyshire Field 210-5 (40) 213-7 (38.3)

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