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Hughes hits half-century on eventful Day One

Sunday 6th August 2017
Written by Danny Painter

Alex Hughes hit an unbeaten 55 and Luis Reece added 45 as Derbyshire were bowled out for 220 on their return to Specsavers County Championship action, against Nottinghamshire at The 3aaa County Ground.

Hardus Viljoen and Tony Palladino then took a wicket apiece as the visitors closed on 93-2, 127 runs behind Derbyshire, leaving the game finely poised after 12 wickets fell on Day One.

Hughes said: “It was a hard fought knock, I played and missed plenty of times but I battled it out to get a score on the board.

“When the overheads are right here it’s very nice to bowl especially when the wicket is like this and the boys were unlucky at times. Viljoen bowled a ten over spell and bowled really quickly, his first two overs were the quickest I’ve seen this year.”

Nottinghamshire Captain Chris Read elected to bowl first, putting faith in a strong seam attack led by Jake Ball and Mark Footitt. It was a decision that paid off early on as Ben Slater (23) edged a quick delivery from Hutton (5-52) through to the slips where Riki Wessels took a good catch.

Billy Godleman (11) and Wayne Madsen (12) both reached double figures before soon departing, the Captain bowled by Ball and Madsen caught behind by Read.

Reece batted nicely for his 45, driving to the cover boundary for four on a number of occasions before he was lbw to Footitt in the third over after lunch. At this point the hosts were 108-4 and Nottinghamshire continued their dominance, Derbyshire soon 133-6 with Gary Wilson (13) lbw to Hutton and Harvey Hosein caught behind one ball later.

Alex Hughes offered resistance for Derbyshire, but as Tom Taylor (7) fell, with Viljoen following next ball, Hutton claimed his five-wicket haul and Derbyshire were 157-8.

It was an unlikely tenth wicket stand between Hughes and Ben Cotton (32) which took the hosts past 200 to claim their first batting bonus point. The pair took the attack to Samit Patel and Hutton and got Derbyshire to 220 before Cotton was the last man out, bowled by the returning Footitt.

Jake Libby (7) became Viljoen’s first Specsavers County Championship wicket of the season, a good catch by Wilson down the leg side getting Derbyshire off to a good start with the ball.

Palladino had Brendan Taylor lbw for four, but Mullaney and Patel rebuilt well for the visitors, adding 37 for the third wicket until bad light forced the players from the field, ending the day’s play at six o’clock with 14 overs left to play.

Nottinghamshire will resume on Day Two on 93-2, with Mullaney not out on 35 and Patel on 21, trailing by 127.

Click HERE to view scorecard.

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