Despite a revival on Day Three which saw Luis Reece top-score with 106, four quick Derbyshire wickets on the morning of the final day set up a comfortable nine-wicket win for Durham at Emirates Riverside.
Hopes of a morning push to force a competitive final day’s play were soon dashed as Tony Palladino fell in the first over of the morning, before Harvey Hosein (16) and Harry Podmore (10) were out within the space of three balls soon after.
Hardus Viljoen (19 not out) struck three fours in a 29-run last wicket stand with Imran Tahir (10), but once the leg spinner was out to Cameron Steel, Derbyshire were all out for 354, setting Durham just 39 to win.
Despite a consolation wicket for Viljoen, Keaton Jennings caught by Ben Slater for 16, fellow opener Tom Latham (unbeaten on 23) struck the winning four to give Durham a nine-wicket victory shortly before the scheduled lunch interval.
Captain, Billy Godleman, said: “After inserting Durham in bowler-friendly conditions on the first day we let them get miles too many. We bowled well in the first hour without much luck, but in the five hours after that there were too many four balls.
“The lights were on most of the second day and batting was tough against a high quality attack on their own ground. But I was really proud of the resilience we showed in the second innings. Not just the skill, but the willingness to bat a long time.
He added: “It was a fantastic hundred by Luis Reece. It has been coming for a while and I’m really pleased for him because I know how hard he’s worked.
“It was also really good to get plenty of overs into Hardus Viljoen. He’ll be important for us in the remaining games because he has pace and hostility.”
Derbyshire return to Specsavers County Championship action next week when they face Glamorgan at The 3aaa County Ground, starting on Tuesday 5 September at 10.30am.
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