Alex Hales hit 218 and powered Nottinghamshire to a substantial first innings lead on Day Two of the Specsavers County Championship match at The 3aaa County Ground.
The England batsman’s first Specsavers County Championship century of the season came off 114 balls and he more than doubled his tally in the afternoon session as the visitors declared on 508-9. There were two wickets each for Wayne Madsen and Hardus Viljoen as Nottinghamshire recorded a lead of 288.
Luis Reece (2) was the only Derbyshire wicket to fall in reply as Ben Slater (23 not out) and Billy Godleman (unbeaten on three) closed the day 45-1, trailing by 243.
Samit Patel (25) was run out in the fourth over of the morning, sharp work by the bowler Tony Palladino to deflect a Steven Mullaney drive onto the stumps with Patel out of his ground.
Mullaney rode his luck, playing a missing before a sharp chance to Alex Hughes in the cordon went down with the all-rounder on 35. He was eventually out for 50, picking out Ben Slater at point shortly after reaching his half-century.
Riki Wessels was the fifth wicket to fall shortly after Nottinghamshire went in front, the powerful batsman caught behind by Gary Wilson off a rising delivery from Hardus Viljoen.
But the runs kept flowing for the visitors, led by Alex Hales, who reached a well-made century from 114 balls after lunch. Captain Chris Read joined him at the crease and the pair set about building a substantial first innings lead at The 3aaa County Ground.
They took the attack to the Derbyshire bowlers and added 204 for the sixth wicket until Read (75) was caught down the leg side by Wilson off Tom Taylor. Hales continued to power on and when he was eventually out for 218, caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Viljoen, the visitors were on 443-7 with a commanding lead of 223.
Brett Hutton was dismissed for 11, but Jake Ball added a quickfire 43 from 24 balls, his wicket bringing the declaration with Nottinghamshire 508-9.
The Derbyshire batsmen had 12 overs to face in the evening and despite the early loss of Reece, caught behind by Read off Mark Footitt, they rallied well to close 45-1, trailing by 243 runs.
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