Alex Hughes struck a career-best 140 to lead a dogged Derbyshire fightback on Day Three versus Gloucestershire and set up a potentially intriguing final day at The 3aaa County Ground.
When Hughes went in to bat at the end of Day Two, Derbyshire were 73 runs behind, but by the end of his 209-ball, the hosts were 172 runs in front, with help from Neil Broom who struck 42.
Matt Critchley added a quick-fire 32 from 35 balls, before Harvey Hosein and Tom Milnes came together to put on 82 for the eighth wicket in good time, scoring 52 and 56 respectively, as Derbyshire were all out for 360.
Gloucestershire closed on 10-0, having faced five overs before stumps, and will require another 262 runs to win on the final day.
Derbyshire began the day on 16-2 and 19-year-old night-watchman Callum Parkinson batted resolutely, scoring 12 from 66 balls, until he was first man out, caught behind of Craig Miles, having lasted over an hour. Miles then had Wayne Madsen caught without scoring.
Hughes was joined by Broom and reached a half-century from 81 balls before seeing his team through to lunch with Derbyshire 104-4.
The pair continued to bat well after the interval, and reached a century stand, but Broom was out to the very next delivery having made 42.
By the time he was joined by Critchley, Hughes was into the nineties, and swiftly moved through to his second first-class century, which came up from 173 balls.
He was being ably assisted by Critchley who hit 32 in good time before the hosts took tea on 224-6, shortly after Critchley’s dismissal.
Hughes took the attack to the visitors in the early stages of the evening session, including a six into the OKI Business & Media Centre, before eventually falling for a career-best.
That brought Hosein and Milnes together who played aggressively to reach a half-century stand in less than nine overs, before continuing to press on and take the Derbyshire lead past 200. Milnes reached his half-century off just 44 deliveries, having hit nine fours, and then moved to surpass his previous career-best before falling on 56 to end an 82-run stand for the eighth wicket.
Hosein was able to score a half-century off 82 balls before being left unbeaten on 52 when Derbyshire were dismissed for 360.
