Derbyshire Captain Wayne Madsen scored 95 and in the process passed 8,000 career first-class runs on an even Day Two of the LV= County Championship clash with Leicestershire at The 3aaa County Ground.
Madsen’s 154-ball innings was the home side’s top score, while Ben Slater added 70 to hit his sixth first-class half-century in 2015.
Bad light brought the players off with 22 overs left in the day, only for the two teams to re-emerge to play another 3.4 overs in which Derbyshire lost two wickets to end the day on 281-7.
In a quiet first hour, the only wicket to fall was that of Billy Godleman when a ball from Rob Taylor nipped off the seam and hit him on the pads bang in front of the stumps on 31.
Chesney Hughes survives a couple of near misses but was eventually bowled by Ollie Freckingham’s first ball of the match having scored 14 alongside Slater who continued to bat patiently on an even morning at The 3aaa County Ground.
Hughes’ replacement Madsen and Slater saw Derbyshire through to lunch without any further scares and Slater had chance to bring up his sixth first-class half-century of the season in the meantime.
The pair continued to plough on post-lunch and Slater reached 70 before driving firmly into the hands of the point fielder to give Zak Chappell his maiden first-class wicket on debut.
Wayne Madsen has just passed 8,000 first-class runs in a fantastic career. Congratulations, Wayne! #P2bD pic.twitter.com/z1BIwwgtHO
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 23, 2015
The loss of his partner did not faze Madsen and, together with a positive Wes Durston, put on an enterprising 70 for the fourth wicket. Derbyshire’s skipper moved through to another half-century, but Durston was trapped in front by Ben Raine on 29 with the hosts 236-4.
Making his first LV= County Championship appearance of the season, Tom Knight held his end vwell to aid Madsen in his quest to push Derbyshire up to Leicestershire’s first-innings score of 329.
Madsen’s progress was halted, however, when he chopped the first ball with the new ball onto his stumps to fall five runs short of his century.
Gloomy skies above Derby forced the players off after Knight had just hit three fours in an over to move onto 21 not out in Derbyshire’s 277-5.
The umpires deemed that the light had improved enough to try and fit in a further 12 overs in the day and Derbyshire lost the wickets of Tom Poynton without scoring and Knight for 25 within two overs of the restart.
Only 3.4 of the scheduled 12 overs were possible, though, as the light continued to deteriorate and force an early close which Derbyshire reached on 281-7, 48 runs behind going into Day Three.
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Day Three of the LV= County Championship fixture between Derbyshire and Leicestershire begins at 10.30am at The 3aaa County Ground. Tickets are available to purchase on the gate.
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