Even after all these years, it is hard to believe that Madsen has batted better than he is at present. His timing and placement are a wonder to watch and he seems to be completely in control of the situation, from the minute he takes guard.
I still couldn’t name you one bat in the country who I would prefer to watch more than the maestro, who went past 20,000 runs in all cricket for Derbyshire in the course of his innings. He is only the third player, after Kim Barnett and Denis Smith, to do so and has quite rightly entered the county’s cricket pantheon.
At the other end he was well supported by Tom Wood, belatedly chosen for a format that seemed as if created for him. He had a bit of luck tonight, but all players need that at times and he lent admirable support to his senior partner as they gradually rebuilt the innings from an awful start.
Both Luis Reece and Haider Ali were out to Callum Parkinson, neither of them to strokes that did them any favours. Ali is in an awful run of form and averages only five in a format that was supposed to be his speciality. There must now be strong pressure to omit him from the side to play Birmingham tomorrow, with Harry Came awaiting his opportunity. He may be saved by Anuj Dal’s poor run this time, but the county expects and needs more from an overseas player.
As has become the norm this season, the departure of one from a stand saw a mini collapse, as the home side’s spinners got to work on a helpful track. But the reliable Guest lent good support to Madsen, who reached a second Vitality Blast century in successive seasons. It was a magnificent effort and it is hard to imagine how Derbyshire can eventually replace him.
A 190 target seemed a challenge, but the home side battled well. Patel batted beautifully, as did Ackermann, while the late injection of tempo from the precocious Ahmed, who had earlier bowled with skill, looked like it would get Leicestershire across the line.
But Khan and Scrimshaw held their nerve in a tense finish, after Watt had finished his spell almost on one leg, making him seem doubtful for tomorrow.
The irony of our dropping a spinner on a track that seemed made for them, then cobbling together two overs from the part time du Plooy and Wood was not lost on me, further evidence of muddled thinking. Their two overs went for 25, while Reece bowled his two for just 14. Chappell was unlucky but mixed it up cleverly and took a key wicket of Mulder.
Still, a win is a win and I have waited long enough to report on one this summer. How many more there will be is a moot point, because at some point the incomparable Madsen has to fail.
Hopefully someone is ready to step up if he does.
But tonight, at least, we got some points on the board.
And we watched the greatest Derbyshire player of the generation at his imperious best.
A nice thought to close with.
My likely team for tomorrow:
Wood, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Ali, Guest, Came, McKiernan, Chappell, Scrimshaw, Khan
Or…do you omit Ali and bring in Lakmal?
