Derbyshire made it back-to-back Specsavers County Championship wins with a one-wicket victory over Northamptonshire on an enthralling final day at Wantage Road.
A battling half-century from Harvey Hosein (54 not out) and a fine 62 from Wayne Madsen helped Derbyshire to their highest ever successful final innings run-chase at Northampton.
The win follows the 169-run victory over Glamorgan at The 3aaa County Ground last week and sees Derbyshire move up to fourth in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two table.
Northamptonshire resumed on 198-8 and Tony Palladino wrapped up the hosts’ innings with two wickets inside six deliveries to set Derbyshire 233 runs to win.
The experienced seamer had Nathan Buck (5) caught in the slips, before bowling Ben Sanderson (0) three balls later to complete a good third innings comeback from Derbyshire.
Northamptonshire bowled well first up and Billy Godleman (0) was bowled in the second over, bringing Madsen to the crease to join Tom Lace.
The pair were watchful to see off the swinging new ball and brought up their 50 partnership before negotiating their way to lunch with the score 85-1, leaving Derbyshire a further 148 runs to win.
Madsen reached his seventh half-century of the Specsavers County Championship season off 87 balls, with nine fours as Derbyshire past 100.
It took the opening bowling pair of Brett Hutton and Sanderson to remove the two set batsmen at which point Northamptonshire took four wickets for just 24 runs to get back on top in a game which saw many shifts in momentum.
Lace was bowled for 39, whilst Madsen was lbw to a quick, low delivery from Sanderson, before Gary Wilson (1) and Matt Critchley (4) fell cheaply soon after.
Alex Hughes (28) and Hosein added 36, but Derbyshire hopes were dented again, this time by Buck, who had Hughes caught by Richard Levi in the cordon.
It was left to Hosein and Anuj Dal (14) to rebuild once again and they added a valuable 38 as Derbyshire edged towards victory.
The wickets of Dal, Hardus Viljoen (12) and Palladino (5) gave Northamptonshire hope of wrapping up the innings, but Hosein, who reached a fine half-century with less than 10 to win, continued to bat smartly alongside Ravi Rampaul (4 not out) as Derbyshire ran out one-wicket winners.
Four-day cricket is back! Derbyshire host their final Specsavers County Championship match of the season against Gloucestershire from Monday 24 September. Buy your tickets in advance and save.
