Gary Wilson hit 106 in his first appearance for the Club and Billy Godleman struck 76 as Derbyshire enjoyed a good first day away at Loughborough MCCU.
Vice Captain Wilson’s quick-fire innings came off just 120 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes, as the visitors declared on 363-8. Tom Milnes struck with the second delivery of the Loughborough innings to leave Derbyshire in a good position at the close on Day One.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, Luis Reece and Billy Godleman opened the Derbyshire innings. Reece (9) struck two quick boundaries before being bowled by Sam Cook, the first of the seamer’s three wickets.
Shiv Thakor put on a 110-run partnership with Godleman for the second wicket before he was caught by Nitish Kumar off Cook for 41.
Wayne Madsen (5) was out lbw to Cook before lunch and Daryn Smit (11) was caught and bowled by Ben Ladd-Gibbon after the restart.
Godleman continued to bat nicely before he was caught behind off Bobby Gamble for a well-made 76, including 11 fours, bringing Alex Hughes to the crease to join Wilson.
The pair put on 89 for the sixth wicket, Hughes striking seven boundaries whilst Wilson passed 50. Hughes was then run out for 39 in the 62nd over, with Derbyshire on 260-6.
Milnes and Wilson then took the attack to the Loughborough bowlers, the latter hitting Kumar for back-to-back sixes as the visitors powered past 300.
Wilson reached his century off 113 balls with ten fours and three sixes at a strike rate of just under 90. He fell soon after for 106, stumped by Robbie White off the bowling of Adam Tillcock.
The slow left-arm bowler then removed all-rounder Milnes for 26 and Derbyshire declared on 363-8, with Tom Taylor (6*) and Tony Palladino (1*) not out and the end of the innings.
With ten overs before the close, Milnes struck with the second ball of the innings to reduce Loughborough to 0-1, as Charlie Thurston was caught behind by Wilson.
Sam Evans and James Bracey put on a 48 run partnership to guide the hosts to 48-1 at stumps, trailing by 315.
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