Derbyshire 318 & 249/4 v Nottinghamshire 618/8 dec (County Championship Division Two)
18.07.22-22.07.22
*four day match drawn
After the record breaking temperatures earlier in the week, it was the inevitable rain and stubborn batting from the Derbyshire top order which prevented Nottinghamshire from completing a victory on the final day of their latest County Championship game. Fifties from openers Harry Came and Luis Reece helped the home side safely to 249 for 4 in their second innings having followed-on after the county’s huge first innings total.
On an unbelievable opening day, England Lions batsman Ben Duckett smashed an unbeaten 237 off 263 balls, and shared in a record breaking partnership of 393 with opener Haseeb Hameed, who went to his first career 150, ending the day on 165 not out off 280 balls.
In the stifling heat of 38 degrees, Nottinghamshire compiled 439 for 1 in 96 overs after having won the toss and decided to bat at the County Ground in Derby. Seven bowlers were used by the home team, with their only success being when Ben Slater was caught behind with the total on 46.
Dropped twice, Duckett reached 50 off only 58 balls, and his hundred off 118 deliveries. Hameed reached three figures an over later. Progressing to 150 off 181 balls, and to his double century off 224, Duckett put up his highest score for the county and ended the day with 36 boundaries to his name. Hameed caressed 21 fours and one six during the day.
Having surpassed the previous Notts second wicket partnership record of 398, Duckett was eventually bowled for a magnificent 241 off 273 deliveries (37 fours), as the stand ended on 402. Hameed continued to a superb 196 with 24 fours and one six before being caught. They had overhauled the previous record held by the legendary Arthur Shrewsbury and Billy Gunn.
The county actually lost six wickets for 65 runs as they lost their momentum from the first day. But the all-round talents of Liam Patterson-White and James Pattinson again came to the fore, as they plundered 105 runs in just 14 overs. Patterson-White crashed 54 runs off 49 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and the Australian was unbeaten on 45 off 49 deliveries (five fours and two sixes), when the declaration came on a mammoth 618 for 8.
The Derbyshire openers also put on 46 for the first wicket before both fell in the space of eight runs. They progressed however to 164-2 at the close, still a massive 454 runs behind, with Brooke Guest (50), and Wayne Madsen (57), both batting patiently in the less intense heat through to stumps.
It was a day of attrition on the third day as Derbyshire eventually totalled 318 in their first innings scoring at less than three runs an over. Guest, who made a fine 109, and Madsen (74), took their third wicket partnership to 140, before the county’s bowlers fought back by taking wickets at regular intervals.
Steven Mullaney took two quick wickets, including the removal of Madsen, and Luke Fletcher had the centurion caught behind, to finish with the impressive figures of 3 for 44 in 25 overs. Mullaney took 3-51 in 24 overs, whilst Pattinson captured two wickets. Following-on, exactly 300 runs behind, the Derbyshire openers fared better, closing the day on 79 without loss but still with a mountain to climb on the final day.
After a late start due to rain on the final day, Came (70), and Reece (86) put on 161 for the first wicket, and Derbyshire were still 51 runs behind when stumps were eventually drawn. Dane Paterson took two wickets for the county. Despite the stalemate, Nottinghamshire still lead the Division Two table by a healthy 23 points from second placed Middlesex, with 175 points from ten games.
The Nottinghamshire Second Eleven lost their latest championship game against Warwickshire at the Lady Bay ground after two poor batting performances.
Notts posted 218 in their first innings, batting for only 60.2 overs, with Calvin Harrison top scoring with 82 off 140 balls, including 14 fours. Opener Ben Martindale contributed 50 off only 61 balls, with 11 fours, but only Fateh Singh (39), troubled the scorers greatly after that. There were four wickets for Olly Stone.
Warwickshire put up 324 in their first knock to lead by 106 runs. Ethan Brookes (45), Adam Hose (34), Matt Lamb (67), and Stone (92 not out at number eight), contributed hugely to the total, with Jake Ball, Matt Carter, and Jack Peirce taking two wickets apiece for the county.
Sol Budinger smashed seven fours in a swift 21-ball 31, and with Martindale (89 with 13 fours), and ‘keeper Dane Schadendorf (57) putting on 76 runs together, Notts looked good on 215-3. They however collapsed to 280 all out, leaving the visitors requiring just 175 to win.
Opener Rob Yates made an unbeaten 89 off 105 balls, with 13 boundaries, and with useful contributions from Amir Khan (26), and Jacob Bethell (33 off 38), the visitors romped to victory by six wickets in only 36.5 overs.
Derbyshire XI: Came, Reece, Guest, Madsen (c), du Plooy, Cartwright, Dal, McKiernan, Aitchison, Connors, Scrimshaw.
Nottinghamshire XI: Slater, Hameed, Duckett, Clarke, James, Mullaney (c), Moores, Patterson-White, Pattinson, Fletcher, Patterson.
Venue: County Ground, Derby
*Article provided by Hitesh Darji (Cricket Correspondent)
*Main image @TrentBridge Luke Fletcher goes close as Notts fall short of bowling out their hosts.
