Luis Reece claimed 5-63 and then struck 184 as Derbyshire moved into a commanding position on Day Two of the Specsavers Championship match against Sussex.
The all-rounder struck twice in as many balls early in the day to swing the momentum firmly into Derbyshire’s favour, as the visitors were dismissed for 231, despite 60 from Stiaan van Zyl.
Reece then smashed a career-best 184 during an opening partnership of 274 with Billy Godleman, who himself hit an unbeaten 106 for the hosts, who ended the day on 360-2, leading by 267.
Having already seen Delray Rawlins flash two fours off his outside edge, Reece got his man when the Sussex batsman pulled a ball straight to Dustin Melton, as he was dismissed for 34.
Sitting on 49 first-class wickets for the season, Reece did not wait around to claim his 50th dismissal, trapping Ben Brown lbw with the first ball that he faced.
David Wiese successfully negotiated the hat-trick ball, but Reece was not to be denied his five-wicket haul, with van Zyl falling lbw to the all-rounder for 60.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice had struck once on Day One, and he doubled his tally for the match when he had Chris Jordan (3) caught behind, before dismissing Wiese (24) soon after.
Wayne Madsen trapped Ollie Robinson (16) lbw, before Dustin Melton had Garton (50) caught by Mattie McKiernan to claim his maiden Specsavers County Championship wicket, as Sussex were dismissed for 231, leading by 93.
Godleman and Reece opened the batting for Derbyshire, seeing out a single over before lunch on the second day at The Pattonair County Ground.
After the interval, the duo set about eclipsing Sussex’s lead, with Reece smashing four-consecutive boundaries off Wiese on his way to a 61-ball half-century.
Godleman also reached his half-century in 82 balls, including six fours shortly before Reece made it to three-figures from just 102 balls, 19 of which were boundaries.
The partnership between the opening pair was 170 at tea, with 169 runs coming in the afternoon session as Derbyshire moved into the lead on Day Two.
Reece reached 150 after tea with his 28th boundary, with the milestone arriving in a 149 balls as the partnership moved beyond 200 for the first wicket.
Derbyshire had 274 runs on the board, the highest partnership for any Derbyshire wicket against Sussex, before the visitors claimed their first wicket, when Reece was run out by Reece Topley for a career-best score of 184.
Shortly before the end of the day, Godleman reached his own century, an innings in which he passed 1,000 first-class runs for the season, in 180 balls, including seven fours.
Before close, Wayne Madsen (42) was caught by Brown off Topley, as Derbyshire ended the day on 360-2, with Godleman (106 not out) and Anuj Dal unbeaten on three.
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