Wayne Madsen hit a fantastic unbeaten 164 to ensure that Derbyshire enjoyed the better of Day One of the LV= County Championship clash with Leicestershire.
Despite being put in on a green-looking wicket and losing three quick wickets, Derbyshire ended the day with three batting bonus points in the bag and sitting well-placed on 320-8.
Madsen led by example for his team, hitting 25 fours in his 266-ball innings whilst allowing others to bat around him with Shiv Thakor (41) and Alex Hughes (23) also contributing before Mark Footitt ended the day on 21 not out.
The early wickets of openers Billy Godleman (1) and Ben Slater (11), in addition to that of Tillakaratne Dilshan (4) were symptomatic of the green pitch and early overcast conditions at Grace Road.
Madsen though, with help from Hughes, manoeuvred the seaming ball well during a tough morning to take lunch on 77-3, having battled hard to recover from 38-3.
The pair continued to battle on after lunch until Hughes was caught behind for 23 to end a 58-run partnership with his Captain, who swiftly moved past fifty.
Wes Durston fell for eight to bring Thakor to the crease who took the attack to the Leicestershire bowling, scoring at almost a-run-a-ball during his innings. He and Madsen added 71 for the sixth wicket, taking Derbyshire from 118-5 up to 189-5 before Thakor was adjudged lbw to Ben Raine for a brisk 41, with seven fours.
Despite the loss of his partner on the stroke of tea, Madsen ploughed on after the break to reach a supreme 19th first-class ton from 203 balls, having struck 16 fours to take his side past 200 and into the batting bonus points on a testing surface.
Madsen secured his third half-century stand of the match, this time with Harvey Hosein before he fell in the first over of the new ball with Derbyshire on 249-7.
Derbyshire’s skipper brought up his 150 with the 23rd four of his innings, having raced from 100 to 150 in just 48 balls and then proceeded to guide Derbyshire beyond 300 and onto a third bonus point.
Footitt, batting at number 10, added 21 from 22 balls late on as Derbyshire finished the day on 320-8 with Madsen still there on a brilliant 164 not out.
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Derbyshire take a trip to Durham on Monday 17 August in the Royal London One-Day Cup before returning to The 3aaa County Ground for the final game of the group stages versus Worcestershire on Tuesday 18 August. Kids go FREE and Adults can save £4 on their admission by purchasing in advance.
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