Shiv Thakor hit 60 not out, whilst Tony Palladino scored 49, as the pair led Derbyshire’s fightback on Day One of the Specsavers County Championship match at Northampton.
The duo put on a vital century stand after Rory Kleinveldt (3-58) had early taken three wickets in nine balls to reduce Derbyshire to 161-7 midway through the afternoon session.
But the eighth-wicket stand between Thakor and Palladino, worth 105 runs, helped the visitors recover before bad light closed play with the score on 275-8.
Having won the toss, the returning Billy Godleman chose to bat and gave his side a positive start alongside Chesney Hughes, sharing a half-century stand during the first hour.
Godleman was the first man out though, as he edged Ben Sanderson behind attempting to hit his 7th four, having scored 32. Hughes fell to the same bowler before lunch when he was expertly stumped by Adam Rossington on 39.
Hamish Rutherford saw Derbyshire through to lunch with some nice strokes but was out to Rory Kleinveldt for 35 in the first over after lunch to spark a period of four wickets for 16 runs.
Kleinveldt bowled Neil Broom (4) before he had Wes Durston caught behind without scoring as the South African returned three wickets in just nine balls.
Wayne Madsen was trapped in front by Azharullah for 11 before Tom Poynton (10) was well-caught at mid-wicket off the same bowler as Derbyshire slipped from 111-2 at lunch, to 161-7 in the first hour of the afternoon session.
That burst of wickets brought Thakor and Palladino to the crease and the pair battled hard to ensure Derbyshire moved safely to 213-7 at a slightly early tea due to light rain.
After the interval, Thakor moved swiftly through to his first half-century of the first-class season which came from 109 balls.
Palladino had looked sure to get through to a half-century of his own but was bowled by Graeme White on 49 but not before he and Thakor had secured an important century partnership for the eighth wicket.
Shortly after, there was a delay for bad light at 5.15pm which eventually turned out to be the close of play. At that point, Derbyshire had rallied to be 275-8 with Thakor unbeaten on 60 alongside Luke Fletcher who was two not out.
Click HERE to view scorecard.
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