RLODC Preview: Derbyshire Falcons vs Durham Jets

RLODC Preview: Derbyshire Falcons vs Durham Jets

Tuesday sees the return of Royal One Day Cup cricket to the 3aaa County Ground at Derby for the first time this season, with the visit of Durham.

Both sides have played one game in the competition this season and are both undefeated, Derbyshire chasing down 195 against Worcestershire and Durham defending 340 against Leicestershire by 11 runs. Both sides will want to continue this good form and push on for a quarter final place, something which both sides have achieved once in the last two seasons.

Derbyshire will again be captained by Alex Hughes who is deputising for the injured Wes Durston for the third game in a row. Hughes has lead the Falcons to two victories so far, one in the T20 Blast and the other the opening fixture of this competition.

It has been a turbulent week for Derbyshire with Elite Performance Director Graeme Welch resigning and John Sadler taking over, however this has not been shown by results on the field, if anything, it appears to have galvanised the players which has resulted in victories.

Durham, who have played more limited overs cricket than any other side this season so far having played 5 T20 Blast fixtures and the opening Royal London One Day Cup game, may be more prepared and more in the white ball groove. However they have only won the same amount as the Falcons despite playing two more games.

The Jets will be lead by the impressive Mark Stoneman and have Scott Borthwick in their ranks, both of whom will be pushing for England honours to back up their fine form.

Key men
The Derbyshire Falcons’ Shiv Thakor has been the man in form this season, now fully recovered from the finger injury which hampered his last season at Grace Road and his first season for Derbyshire, Thakor has shown impressive form with both ball and bat across all forms this season. His bowling has been economical and taken wickets at vital times, along with batting which shows maturity beyond his years, knowing when to rebuild, or when to push the accelerator. At Derbyshire he is developing into the fine all-rounder he has always had the potential to be.

If you haven’t already guessed, an all-rounder is favourable in any side and Durham hold a rare commodity – a leg spinning all-rounder; Scott Borthwick. Durham have the best in County Cricket, he bowls with good flight and drift, able to take wickets whilst keeping it tight. Coupled with this is his vast volume of runs either batting at three in First Class cricket or at anywhere in the order in the shorter form of the game. If you can get him early and target his bowling then you stand a very good chance of beating Durham, let him bowl to you and let him get in and you’ll be staring down the barrel of defeat.

Team News
The Falcons name an unchanged 13 man squad, with the likely 11 set to be the same as the victorious side who prevailed over Worcestershire at the weekend with Will Davis and Ben Slater missing out.

Derbyshire Falcons squad: Alex Hughes (c), Neil Broom, Andy Carter, Ben Cotton, Matt Critchley, Will Davis, Billy Godleman, Chesney Hughes, Wayne Madsen, Tom Poynton (wk), Hamish Rutherford, Ben Slater, Shiv Thakor

Durham will be without the injured and England restricted Ben Stokes and the ever brilliant Graham Onions, they are likely to stick with the same side that defeated Leicestershire at the weekend, picking from the same squad.

Durham Jets squad: Mark Stoneman (c), Usman Arshad, Scott Borthwick, Graham Clark, Paul Collingwood, Paul Coughlin, Jamie Harrison, Keaton Jennings, Barry McCarthy, Calum MacLeod, Phil Mustard (wk),
Ryan Pringle, Michael Richardson, Chris Rushworth,

Form
Derbyshire Falcons: W
Durham Jets: W

Weather and conditions:
The weather is set fair for the game and if the weather is anything like today’s then make sure you remember your sun cream!

Date: 7th June 2016
Time: 14.00
Ground: 3aaa County Ground, Derby
Umpires: Steve Gale and David Milns
Odds (SkyBet): Derbyshire Falcons 1/1, Durham Jets 4/5

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