Chesney Hughes top-scored with an unbeaten 85 for Derbyshire on an even Day One of the LV= County Championship fixture versus Surrey at the Kia Oval.
Hughes faced 152 balls for his 85 not out, hitting eight fours, after Billy Godleman had earlier continued his good form to score 45 from 57 balls and Ben Slater had added 42.
On a day disrupted a number of times due to adverse weather, Derbyshire faced just over 73 overs and closed on 209-5, having earlier won the toss and chosen to bat first.
There was, however, no play before lunch due to rain, but play finally got underway at 12.40pm after an early lunch had been taken at midday.
Playing in his 100th first-class fixture, Godleman got Derbyshire off to the ideal start, scoring in excess of a-run-a-ball as he and Ben Slater shared a half-century opening stand.
#MatchAction: Here are @BennySlats, Godleman and @ChesneyH22 in action for #DCCC at Surrey today #SURvDER #P2bD pic.twitter.com/wOLDJ35hVM
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 1, 2015
On the back of three consecutive centuries, Godleman made 45 before becoming Derbyshire’s first man out, bowled by Zafar Ansari having put on 79 with his opening partner.
The loss of Godleman meant that the Derbyshire run-rate slowed down but they still looked set to endure the entire session for just one wicket until Slater fell on the stroke of tea for 42 with the score on 128-2.
Derbyshire number three Hughes found runs at a good rate initially and completed his fourth first-class half-century of the season having scored seven fours in 74 balls either side of the tea interval.
Another rain shower arrived in South London just before 4.30pm after Derbyshire had lost Wayne Madsen (9) and Wes Durston (6) to give Ansari his third and fourth wickets and reduce Graeme Welch’s side to 166-4 at the rain delay.
Young wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein, however, played a battling innings to help Hughes advance his score in the final overs of the day before falling lbw to Tom Curran having faced 59 balls for his 11 runs.
Tom Milnes, making his first-class debut for Derbyshire, faced two balls at the end of the day to finish unbeaten on three alongside Hughes who had batted exceptionally well for his 85 not out as the visitors closed on 209-5.
Click here to view scorecard >>
Derbyshire are back in home action on Wednesday 9 September for the start of the LV= County Championship fixture versus Essex. Supporters can save £4 by purchasing tickets in advance.
[ticketbuttons]
