Wayne Madsen finished on 73 not out, after Chesney Hughes hit 83, as Derbyshire batted themselves into a strong position after Day Two versus Kent at Canterbury.
Madsen and Hughes enjoyed a dominant partnership for the third wicket worth 112 as the visitors ended a good day on 291-3, trailing their hosts by just 88 runs, having finished off the Kent tail in the morning session to bowl them out for 379.
Hamish Rutherford earlier scored 65 while Captain Billy Godleman hit 33 as part of a 75-run opening stand to set Derbyshire on their way to a healthy first-innings total.
Tasked with taking the remaining Kent wickets on the morning of Day Two, Derbyshire made an early inroad when Shiv Thakor picked up his first wicket of the match – James Tredwell caught by Rutherford for 12.
Mitch Claydon joined unbeaten centurion Sam Northeast but could only add four to the Kent total as he feathered a ball from Tony Palladino through to Tom Poynton behind the stumps. The senior bowler claimed 4-76 for the innings.
The final Kent wicket to fall was that of Northeast for a career-best 191. He caught by Madsen trying to hit Hughes’ slow left-arm out of the park and Kent were 379 all out.
Derbyshire built on a successful morning when they began their innings, as opening pair Godleman and Rutherford made an ensured start to reach lunch without trouble on 47-0.
A faster run-scoring start to the afternoon session followed, with Godleman reaching 33 before he nicked a Claydon delivery to Tom Latham at slip.
Hughes and Rutherford made sure that Derbyshire got up to and beyond 100 without further damage with Rutherford picking up a third half-century of the red-ball season from 88 balls.
The New Zealander added a further 15 runs before being the visitors’ second man out. He was caught a long-off via the bowling of James Tredwell but had helped his team into a handy position on 139-2 in response to 379 all out.
That brought Hughes and Madsen together and the duo set about creating a partnership that would make sure their side enjoyed the better of the second day. The visitors were 168-2 at tea and Hughes quickly reached a half-century from 91 balls after the resumption.
The century partnership came up inside 27 overs but Hughes was out for 83 when he top-edged Tredwell into the sky for the former England spinner to take a caught and bowled to end the Anguilla-born all-rounder’s 139-ball stay.
The loss of his long-time partner did not faze Madsen as he passed fifty for the fifth time this season from 101 balls. Madsen has gone on to make three centuries and a 97 on the previous four occasions he has reached 50 this campaign.
The 32-year-old looks set for another big score having reached stumps on 73 not out, alongside Neil Broom who is 15 not out in Derbyshire’s 291-3.
The Falcons are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action vs Northants Steelbacks at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield on Sunday 3 July. Supporters can save 20% by purchasing their NatWest T20 Blast matchday tickets in advance of the day of the game.
Northants Steelbacks – Sun 3 July – BUY
Yorkshire Vikings – Sun 10 July – BUY
Lancashire Lightning – Wed 13 July – BUY
Worcestershire Rapids – Fri 22 July – BUY
