Conor McKerr took his maiden five wicket haul in first-class cricket as 16 wickets fell on Day One of the Specsavers County Championship match versus Northamptonshire at The County Ground.
The Surrey loanee took 5-87 and Tony Palladino claimed 3-45 as Derbyshire dismissed the hosts for 218 after electing to field first.
Northamptonshire took six wickets in reply, but Alex Hughes remained firm to hit an unbeaten 50 as Derbyshire closed on 153-6, trailing by 65 runs.
McKeer said: “It’s a great feeling, we bowled well as a unit today and I’m really happy. The wicket was a little slower than we originally thought but did offer some sideways movement.
“We definitely thought their score was below par at the time but now we need to fight hard and then go again with the ball.”
McKerr and Tom Taylor opened the bowling for Derbyshire and it was Taylor who got the early breakthrough, Max Holden lbw for ten in the seventh over.
McKerr then struck either side of a rain delay as Derbyshire took control of the morning session. First, Alex Wakely was lbw for 11 with the score moving onto 56-2. Returning after a 30 minute delay, McKerr removed Keogh without scoring, caught by Wayne Madsen at first slip without scoring.
A 78-run partnership followed as Ben Duckett (36) and Rob Newton looked to stabilise the Northamptonshire innings, before Duckett was bowled by Palladino, the seamer picking up his second wicket.
The two established batsmen were removed when Palladino struck again just four overs later, Newton caught behind by Daryn Smit for 67.
Josh Cobb was out without scoring, caught by Hughes off McKerr. Chesney Hughes soon followed, caught by Jeevan Mendis off Wayne Madsen’s off-break bowling for 20.
Rory Kleinveldt looked to score quickly but he soon began to run out of partners, first Nathan Buck (9) bowled by Palladino and then Ben Sanderson (1) caught by Rob Hemmings off McKerr as he aimed for the boundary.
The Northants innings came to a close when Kleinveldt (40) was caught behind by Smit off McKerr, the Surrey paceman collecting his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Jeevan Mendis was promoted up the order as Luis Reece went to hospital for a precautionary check-up following breathing difficulties whilst bowling. Reece will remain in hospital overnight for monitoring as a precaution.
The Sri Lanka all-rounder, however, was dismiss off the first ball of the innings, lbw to Sanderson.
Godleman made seven before he was caught by Wakely off Kleinveldt, bringing Madsen to the crease. He was out for four, lbw to Buck.
Shiv Thakor continued to bat nicely, hitting 45 from 66 balls, including seven fours. However, he was also out to Buck, caught behind by Duckett, the England man with the gloves in the absence of the injured Adam Rossington.
Hughes and Gary Wilson went about rebuilding the innings, adding 24 for the fifth wicket before the Ireland international was caught by Duckett at the second attempt after edging a good delivery from Sanderson.
Daryn Smit became the sixteenth wicket to fall in the day, lbw to Sanderson for four with the score on 108-6.
Hughes batted nicely under pressure as he reached his fifty from 84 balls, including five fours. He will resume 50 not out on the second day along with Taylor, who was unbeaten on seven, as Derbyshire closed on 153-6.
NatWest T20 Blast is back this July and August. Save £4 by purchasing your matchday tickets in advance. While further discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Buy online today to secure your place and save.
[twentyticket]
