Chesney Hughes hit his second century of the season and Billy Godleman hit 94 as the pair put on a double-hundred opening partnership to secure a draw versus Northamptonshire.
Hughes’ ninth first-class century for the Club came from 162 balls, whilst Godleman, playing in his first match of the season, hit 94 from 174 balls as the pair batted for almost two sessions to ensure a draw in the Specsavers County Championship match.
Earlier on in the day, Derbyshire had taken the final three Northants wickets to bowl them out for 470 – a first-innings lead of 146 – with Andy Carter (3-114) picking up two and Tony Palladino (2-104) taking the final wicket.
The game petered out to a draw at 4.50pm when the Captains shook hands with Derbyshire on 229-1, leading by 83 runs.
Within his first two overs of the day, Carter had both Graeme White (23) and Azharullah (6) caught in the slips by Hughes and Wes Durston respectively.
There was time in the hosts’ innings for Richard Levi to complete his century. He had begun the day on 84 not out and got through to a hundred from 127 balls but was out soon after when he was bowled by Palladino on 102 as Northamptonshire were 470 all out.
Beginning their second innings 46 runs behind, careful batting from Derbyshire’s opening pair of Hughes and Godleman ensured that they reached lunch unscathed on 59 without loss.
The pair continued after the interval, picking up the run-rate to almost four-an-over and defying the hosts’ attack to ensure any possibility of a Northamptonshire victory was entirely eradicated.
Hughes’ half-century came from 88 balls, whilst Godleman’s took him 110 balls as the pair took tea on 180-0 having removed the hosts’ first-innings lead without losing a wicket and scored 121 runs in the afternoon session.
After tea, Hughes moved swiftly on to his second century of the first-class season and his third score of 96 or more. His hundred came from 162 balls shortly after the 200-run opening stand with Godleman had come up.
Godleman could not, however, join Hughes in scoring a century as he was out hit wicket off Jake Libby for 94.
The match was declared at draw at 4.50pm when Derbyshire declared their second innings on 229-1, leading by 83 runs, with Hughes ending the match on 109 not out.
Derbyshire take 10 points from the match, whilst Northamptonshire take 13.
Click HERE to view scorecard.
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