Billy Godleman was disappointed with Derbyshire’s 95-run defeat to Durham and admits the result was tough to swallow after his side were in a good position after the opening day.
Derbyshire were bowled out for 172 on the final morning after being set a chase of 268 runs to win at Durham.
Ben Slater top-scored with 68, but no other batsman was able to score above 29 and Chris Rushworth claimed five wickets to consign Derbyshire to defeat after initially dismissing Durham for 96 on Day One.
Godleman said: “It’s a tough one to swallow. It just proves that even if you’re in command of a game of four-day cricket until you have taken the final wicket or have scored the final run you haven’t won the match.
“Equally a strong message moving forward for us is that when you find yourselves with your backs against the wall you’re never out of a game of four-day cricket.
“To insert them on a lively wicket it can sometimes provide its own pressures for the bowlers. As a bowling unit and as a team you try to bowl them out in the first session. You can then go searching for wickets and throw up some four balls.
“The guys on the first morning, particularly Hardus Viljoen and Duanne Olivier were fantastic. Duanne was magnificent throughout the game, and although he may have leaked the odd boundary at times, he did bowl over 40 overs which was almost on the spin. He stuck to the game plans of the team.”
Godleman added: “Unfortunately there were times yesterday we were unable to keep our discipline as an all-round bowling unit.
“Sometimes unfortunately the conditions go against you. When we came out to bat on Monday night the floodlights were on, Chris Rushworth is a fine exponent of the new ball under lights on his own patch. Matt Salisbury was equally excellent where he put the ball. It was a tough session.”
Derbyshire are next in Specsavers County Championship action on Wednesday 20 June, for Day One of their away trip to face Glamorgan.
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