Important knocks please Godleman

Billy Godleman was pleased to score an unbeaten century in Derbyshire’s drawn LV= County Championship fixture against Leicestershire, with the captain praising a number of other standout performers in the match.

Godleman scored 100 not out on the final afternoon to guide his side to a draw, after they had lost three wickets in the second innings whilst still trailing the visitors’ first innings total of 528.

A day prior, Anuj Dal and Brooke Guest had scored maiden first-class centuries on their way to a Club-record sixth-wicket partnership of 227, pulling Derbyshire out of an early collapse, which left them 56-5.

Matt Critchley also ended the game unbeaten on 59, having added 139 alongside the captain, and Godleman wanted the emphasise the importance of their contributions to earn the result.

“I always set myself personal targets to make runs that either win or save games for Derbyshire,” he told BBC Radio Derby.

“I feel like I contributed in this game, and the personal milestone of a century is nice, but my measure is the games won or saved, and there was some brilliant batting when we were in trouble from Brooke and Anuj in the first innings, Critch played brilliantly too, with a lot of skill and experience.

“We pride ourselves on, at the very least, competing and making it difficult for any opposition who come to play at our home ground. Unfortunately, that hasn’t always been the case, but that’s not through any lack of trying on and off the field.”

Godleman also paid tribute to Dave Houghton, who will be stepping down from his role as Head of Cricket at the end of the season.

“I would just like to go on record personally, and on behalf of all the lads, to thank Dave for all of his hard work and care on and off the field,” he added.

“He really cares about this club, and he’s done all the he could possibly do to help us learn and develop, but I’m pleased he’s made the right decision for himself and his family.

“Everyone will miss Houghts in their own way, he’s an encyclopaedia of knowledge on the game, he’s been incredibly helpful, as a captain, through his experience of being a captain himself. We’ve worked very closely together and he loves the game of cricket, so I’ll really miss our conversations on the game, as well as picking his brains on the art of batting.”