Day One Report

The County Championship, the blue riband of the professional game, has often been likened to the rhythms of a William Walton symphony with moments of quiet tension, sudden crescendos and then a majestic finale to leave the audience breathless. After their draw last week at Northampton, Sam Northeast and his squad have returned to the East Midlands with their cricketing equivalents of orbs and sceptres to commence what could be the closing movement ahead of a potential coronation march next week against Lancashire when they are back at home in Cardiff. (writes Andrew Hignell)

However, the weather gods have turned this vital encounter at Derby into something more akin to Handel’s Water Music. Steady rain and a gusty wind had greeted the Glamorgan squad when they arrived in Derby yesterday afternoon to prepare for this four-day encounter, with the precipitation continuing into the evening. With a yellow weather warning in operation over much of England and Wales until 1800 this evening, it was no surprise this morning that when both the Glamorgan and Derbyshire squads, plus umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Suri Shanmugam, arrived at the ground at 0900am, they found the outfield in a damp state and with the pitch and surrounds still under cover.

Given the very strong winds, it was too dangerous for the groundstaff to safely remove the protective sheets, with the umpires deciding to delay the start of play and to assess conditions again at 1030am. With the winds still blowing strongly, a further inspection took place at 1130am, but conditions had not improved so lunch was taken at 1230pm with further inspections at 1310pm and at 1400pm. Conditions remained very blustery so the umpires at their further inspection at 1500pm called off play for the day.

Close of Play Report

Resuming on 179-6, van der Gugten guided both Reece and Dal through the slips for four before Carlson, on 94, edged Dal to slip where Aitchison took a fine catch diving one-handed low to his left. 193-7 then became 205-8 as Aitchison returned to the attack and saw van der Gugten edging to wicket-keeper to Brooke Guest. Andy Gorvin pulled Haydon for four before on-driving him to the ropes. James Harris greeted the introduction of Martin Andersson by square-cutting him for a pair of fours before flicking Chappell to square-leg for four as well as on-driving Chappell for four.

Harris continued by cover-driving Chappell for four and slashing him through point for another boundary after Derbyshire had taken the new ball. Gorvin then saw Glamorgan to the 250-mark and a batting point by steering Aitchison through the slips for two. But next over Reece removed Harris who edged to Guest. Asitha Fernando edged Reece for four through the vacant gully before Gorvin straight-drove Reece for four. Two balls later he repeated the stroke but holed out to Haydon at mid-on as Glamorgan ended on 259.

This left Derbyshire with five overs to face before the close with Reece and Aneurin Donald seeing the Peakites to 17-0.

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan had reached 80-3 at lunch but in the second over of the session, Luis Reece bowled Colin Ingram. Billy Root began by clipping Reece for four to mid-wicket but in Anuj Dal’s fourth over he cut the all-rounder straight to Martin Andersson in the gully. 93-5 saw Chris Cooke join Carlson who executed a far safer cut against Reece, but Cooke departed to his first ball as Dal found the edge of his bat, with Ben Aitchison at slip pouching the ball as he tumbled backwards.

Having been joined by Timm van der Gugten, Carlson clipped Reece to square-leg for four before the Dutch international flicked Chappell for four. A single through point saw Carlson complete his fifty from 120 balls before van der Gugten off-drove Aitchison for four. Carlson also dabbed Chappell to third man for four with van der Gugten clipping the shaven-headed seamer to mid-wicket for four.

Rory Haydon returned at the City End and was twice harpooned for six by Carlson who also cover-drove Aitchison for four whilst van der Gugten continued to play watchfully at the other end.

Morning Report

“A High Wind in Jamaica” was the title of the famous novel, written in 1929, by Welsh author Richard Hughes who, besides being a close friend of Dylan Thomas, saw his work converted into a film of the same name which was released in 1965. Sixty years later, if any scriptwriters or other authors put pen to paper about Glamorgan’s success in gaining promotion into Division One of the County Championship for 2026, they may wish to add a section named “A High Wind in Derby” after events yesterday on what should have been the first day as the teams battling for promotion went head-to-head in the East Midlands.

Like the rest of England and Wales, a yellow weather warning for strong winds and heavy rain resulted in the loss of the opening day’s play. The same happened at seven other matches around the country, and the upshot is that these meteorological hazards have greatly assisted the Welsh county in their promotion bid. The likelihood of further weather interruptions today and on subsequent days, means that a series of draws in this and other contests may ensure that Glamorgan end this round of matches at least 25 points ahead of the third placed team with just one round of four-day matches remaining, earning Sam Northeast and his team promotion into Division One after an absence of 21 years.

It was overcast and dank first thing at the County Ground but following an inspection at 0900am, the umpires decided that play could start on time at 1030am. The Welsh county made two changes to their line-up which drew last week with Northamptonshire with Andy Gorvin replacing Mason Crane and Billy Root coming into the line-up instead of the injured Ben Kellaway. Derbyshire won the toss and opted to bowl, shortly before the drizzle returned and causing a further delay until 1100am plus the loss of a further eight overs.

Luis Reece opened the bowling and was clipped to mid-wicket for four by Zain ul Hassan, whilst Ben Aitchison was square-cut for four by Asa Tribe. But with the total on 13, Reece – who is the leading wicket-taker in Division Two added further to his tally by trapping Tribe l.b.w. as Sam Northeast made his way to the middle. Next over it became 13/2 as ul Hassan feathered a catch to wicket-keeper Brooke Guest. Northeast responded by off-driving Aitchison for four prior to Kiran Carlson, on his 100th first-class appearance for Glamorgan, cover-driving Reece.

Northeast also cover-drove Reece before Carlson nurdled Zak Chappell to third man for four. Northeast then clipped Rory Haydon to square-leg to bring up the fifty. Seven runs later Chappell trapped Northeast leg before as Colin Ingram made his way to the middle. He began by cover-driving Chappell for four and then on-driving Ben Aitchison for four, prior to leg-glancing Anuj Dal to fine-leg to reach the landmark of 10,000 runs in all first-class cricket. He celebrated by drilling Aitchison for four as Glamorgan reached 80-3 at lunch.

Afternoon Update

There had been no play before lunch with a further umpires inspection taking place at 1415 at which it was hoped to start at 1500 with 43 overs remaining, but as the officials walked off, it started raining again! With the rain still falling at 1515, play was called off for the day.

Morning Report

Overnight rain and steady precipitation throughout the morning has delayed the start of the third day in what, on paper, is a pivotal match in the race for promotion into Division One of the Rothesay County Championship for 2026. Umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Suri Shanmugam swiftly assessed conditions on arrival at the Derby ground and, with rain still falling, delayed the start of play. With the precipitation still falling at 1045am it was agreed that there would be no play before lunch, and as the rain eased around noon, the umpires agreed to an inspection at 1330pm.

Throughout this season, Glamorgan have only lost 13.25 hours in their previous twelve Championship matches. If the gloomy weather forecasts are correct today, and rain completely washes out play once again at Derby, the loss of time in this match alone will reach 12.50 hours.

Morning Report

Overnight rain and steady drizzle throughout the morning has delayed the start of the fourth and final day of this pivotal match in the race for promotion into Division One of the Rothesay County Championship for 2026, with Derbyshire, needing a victory to remain in the promotion race on 17-0 still 242 runs in arrears.

Only 96 overs can be bowled today so time is ticking rapidly away against Derbyshire in trying to manufacture something, such as declaring on their overnight total, trying to bowl Glamorgan out for a second time and then having a helter-skelter run chase.

With the precipitation still falling, umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Suri Shanmugam assessed conditions at 0945am at the Derby ground, together with the Derbyshire Head Groundsman and officially decreed that there would be no play before lunch. After another inspection at 1230pm, togther with the two captains, the umpires called off play for the day and leaving Glamorgan waiting for news from elsewhere to determine whether the points accrued in this game are sufficient to confirm promotion.