Rain prevailed as the overall winner on the final day in the Specsavers County Championship at the 3aaa County Ground where Derbyshire and Gloucestershire had to settle for a draw.
The hosts needed to defend 262 on the final day but rain put paid to play without a single ball being bowled.
On the opening day, Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat first after the visitors waived their right to bowl first.
Ben Slater and Billy Godleman led from the top of the innings reaching 91 for no loss, before the Gloucestershire’s seam attack struck trice in as many overs to reduce the hosts to 97-3 before lunch. Craig Miles (4-30) got the first breakthrough, dismissing Godleman (31) before Liam Norwell had Alex Hughes (1) caught behind. Wayne Madsen (0) lasted just six balls before he became Miles second scalp.
After the break Slater and Neil Broom consolidated the innings to take the score to 175-3, before Broom edged Miles to the slip cordon for 36. Broom’s dismissal sparked a collapse, with the home County losing seven wickets for just 67 runs. While wickets fell at the other end, Slater hit his way to his third first-class century.
The composed innings came off 213 balls, including 12 fours, before the opening batsman fell for 110.
Left to face 12 remaining overs in the day, Gloucestershire started their first innings 242 runs in arrears. Tom Milnes laid early ground for the host, when Gareth Roderick (4) edged the pacemen for a slip catch.
Will Tavare and Chris Dent, the overnight batsmen, started day two on 27-1, and it took Milnes just two deliveries to get the first wicket of the morning – Tavare caught behind for 11.
George Hankins was next to partner Dent and together the pair provided temporary relief before Hankins was outfoxed by spinner Callum Parkinson (2-56) for 34. With the score on 84-3, Hamish Marshall followed shortly after, trapped leg before by Palladino. Heading into the break the visitors found themselves on 135-4.
Dent and Phil Mustard accounted for the loss of the top order, adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket. Dent found himself closing in on a century but in a bid to replicate a solidarity six down the ground, he skied the ball to Godleman at mid-on, who held on to dismiss the opener for 94.
Mustard and Jack Taylor produced a frustrating partnership worth 74 before Palladino played havoc with the new ball. The Derbyshire paceman took four wickets, adding to his earlier one, to claim a five wicket-haul.
The visitors were eventually bowled out for 330, with Phil Mustard the last man standing, unbeaten on 107.
With a deficit of 89, Ben Slater and Billy Godleman had to survive seven remaining overs of the evening session but both fell for six and five respectively before the close of play to leave Derbyshire on 16-2.
Callum Parkinson (12) and Hughes resumed the innings on day three, and while Parkinson was able to share in a 45-run stand, the nightwatchman and his replacement Wayne Madsen were dismissed by Miles in the same over with the score on 61-4.
Broom (42) and Hughes rebuilt the host’s innings before Broom fell on the stroke of the 100-run partnership. Critchley, belting 32 off 35 balls, provided support at the end other as Hughes went on to record his century off 173 balls. Derbyshire headed into tea with the score on 224-6.
Heading into the final session, Hughes looked too attack the visitors, smiting a six down the ground, before eventually falling for a career-best 140.
The lower-batting order continued where Hughes left off, Milnes (56) and Hosein (52*) each recording half centuries, with the formers coming off 44 balls.
However, the momentum was soon halted when the hosts lost their last three wickets for just 17 runs in the space of five overs – Derbyshire all-out for 360.
Miles was the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers, repeating his first innings performance with another four wickets in the innings.
Roderick (6*) and Dent (4*) had five overs in which to start the 272 run chase for victory and the opening pair ensured the visitors were 10 for no loss at the close of play.
Persistent rain, which arrived shortly after 10am, prevented any play on the final day and enforced a draw.
Derbyshire 242 (81.5 overs) (BT Slater 110, NT Broom 36, BA Godleman 31; CN Miles 4 for 30, J Shaw 2 for 65) and 360 (95.2 overs) (AL Hughes 140, TP Milnes 56, HR Hosein 52*, NT Broom 42, MJJ Critchley 32; CN Miles 4 for 82, DA Payne 2 for 66)
Gloucestershire 331 (98.5 overs) (P Mustard 107*, CDJ Dent 94, JMR Taylor 36, GT Hankins 34; AP Palladino 5 for 74, CF Parkinson 2 for 56, TP Milnes 2 for 57) and 10 for 0 (5 overs)
Derbyshire (9 points) drew with Gloucestershire (11)
