Derbyshire 105 & 159 v Nottinghamshire 256 & 318 (County Championship Group One)

*Nottinghamshire win by 310 runs

29.04.21 – 01.05.21

A wonderful performance by Nottinghamshire’s bowlers ensured their hosts didn’t even get close to the targets set in a dominant display that saw the visitors wrap up the County Championship match inside three days, and more importantly gave Notts their first red ball win since 2018.

It has been a long time coming but to do it against Derbyshire in style is ever more rewarding. Notts put into bat on day one at the Incora County Ground, lost Hameed and Duckett early but a third wicket partnership of 163 between Slater (107) and Clarke (66) gave the green and golds a fighting chance, that however looked to run away as Notts went from 194/2 to 256 all out, the middle order and tail skittled by Derbyshire bowlers with Hudson-Prentice taking four wickets.

The final hour though might have been a chance for the home side to close in on Notts most reachable target, instead the session went the way of the bowlers again, the visitors quickly ripping through their hosts with wicket after wicket, by close of play Derbyshire were 82/8.

On Friday morning Notts wrapped up the Derbyshire innings at just 105 all out, Luke Fletcher taking his 350^th red ball wicket and 500^th wicket of all as he finished on 5 for 28 from his 14.5 overs.

Into bat with a healthy lead of over 150, Notts were able to build on their dominance with a good start from the opening pair, after Slater went for 24, Hameed and Duckett went to work with a second wicket partnership that took Nottinghamshire to a lead near 300. That partnership eventually fell fourteen short of the 200 total and with a 350 plus overall lead, Duckett going for 87 with Hameed next for 94, Joe Clarke then got a quick 53 with Notts eventually swinging themselves up 318 all out and a lead of over 400 runs.

In response, Derbyshire didn’t last long as their reply was largely undone by Stuart Broad and Dane Paterson, overnight at day two they were 23 without loss but in the end following a good morning session for Nottinghamshire, after less than 42 overs and for a total of 159, thanks to 4/37 by Broad and 3/30 from Paterson, Notts wrapped up the match with a day to play to take some serious points that lifts them momentarily at least, to second in the table.

*Main image @TrentBridge Ben Duckett in a superb second innings.