A stubborn innings from Billy Godleman ensured Derbyshire and Gloucestershire shared the spoils in the LV= County Championship, after the two sides helped to set up the possibility of a result on Day Four.
Derbyshire declared overnight before Gloucestershire followed suit after just 14 overs of their second innings, setting the hosts 302 to win from 80 overs.
Early wickets meant that Derbyshire were unable to dictate terms for a victory push as Godleman (64*) batted for over five hours, facing 228 deliveries, to stabilise his side’s innings and thwart Gloucestershire hopes of victory.
Derbyshire reached the close on 189-8 as they sufficiently dealt with a late Gloucestershire onslaught, after the visitors saw an opportunity to snatch victory late on at The 3aaa County Ground.
The hosts declared overnight on 77-2 in an attempt to set up a game on Day Four, with Gloucestershire beginning their second innings with a lead of 252 runs.
Gloucestershire batted for 14 overs, reaching 49-0, before they too declared to set Derbyshire a victory 302 to win from 80 overs, as both sides tried to force a result.
The chase got off to the worst possible start as Ben Slater was adjudged lbw from the second ball of the innings to David Payne, before Chesney Hughes mistimed an attempted shot through midwicket when on 12, as Hamish Marshall took the catch off the bowling of Craig Miles.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was then bowled by a brilliant full length ball from Payne, as Derbyshire were reduced to 35-3.
Godleman and Scott Elstone saw their side through to lunch three down, but Elstone went soon after as he cut the ball straight to Benny Howell at point for 16, to gift Payne his third wicket.
Shiv Thakor came to the crease with Derbyshire struggling on 63-4 but he battled hard alongside his Captain in an attritional afternoon session that helped to steady the ship, with 68 runs scored for the loss of just one wicket.
A gritty partnership of 69 came to an end six overs into the evening session, as Thakor was trapped lbw by Jack Taylor for 43.
Harvey Hosein was then bowled by Liam Norwell for 11, before Matt Critchley played onto his stumps off the bowling of Miles for 12, to leave Derbyshire 164-7 with 16 overs still left in the game.
Tony Palladino used up 45 useful deliveries before being bowled by the off-spin of Taylor in the penultimate over of the match.
But Godleman’s resistance continued throughout the day as he guided his side through to stumps on 189-8 with an innings that lasted for five hours and 19 minutes.
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Photography – David Griffin
Derbyshire are back in NatWest T20 Blast action on Friday (5 June) when they welcome Durham, featuring Ben Stokes, to The 3aaa County Ground. Buy tickets in advance of the day of the game and save £4!
