Essex’s Nick Browne became the only player to ever score two double hundreds in the same season against Derbyshire on Day Two of their Specsavers County Championship game with Essex, despite six wickets from Tom Milnes.
Ryan ten Doeschate scored 60 before he was the first wicket to fall, bowled by Milnes (6-93) who began the day with two of Derbyshire’s four wickets.
Milnes continued to take wickets at regular intervals during the day, accounting for James Foster (13), Will Rhodes (1) and Graham Napier (4).
Essex eventually declared on 530-9, with Nick Browne carrying his bat for 229 not out but Derbyshire’s innings got off to a poor start, being reduced to 34-4, until the middle order recovered somewhat to be 116-6 at the close of play.
Essex resumed the day on 291-4 with centurion Browne on 116 not out. He and ten Doeschate, who begun on 15, played positively as ten Doeschate reached his 50 off 61 balls, with Browne following shortly to reach his 150.
The Essex middle and lower-order failed to create partnerships with Browne, but that did not stop him reaching his second career double-hundred, and in doing so became the first player to ever score two double-hundreds against Derbyshire in a first-class season.
Palladino (1-73) bowled Paul Walter (47) who provided some useful runs for Essex at number 10, and then Captain ten Doeschate declared with Essex on 530-9 and Browne unbeaten on 229 not out.
Essex struck immediately in the Derbyshire reply when Jamie Porter (1-35) had Ben Slater lbw without scoring from the second ball of the innings.
Billy Godleman (10) and Wayne Madsen (0) followed shortly after to the Essex debutant Walter (3-23), before Alex Hughes was caught down the leg side for 13 off the bowling of Graham Napier (2-13).
Neil Broom (31) and Charlie Macdonell (21) put on 40 for the fifth wicket, before both fell quickly from loose shots outside the off-stump.
Essex were in a commanding position with Derbyshire 79-6, but Alex Mellor (20 not out) and Matt Critchley (17 not out) batted well towards the end of the day to restrict Essex to any more progress, leaving Derbyshire 116-6 going into Day Three.
