Critchley takes six as Derbyshire win

Leicestershire first innings: 199: Dearden 70, Melton 4-22, second innings: 220: Dearden 47, Critchley 6-73.
Derbyshire first innings: 408: Madsen 103, Hosein 66*, second innings: 12-1: Reece 4*, Godleman 4.

Career-best figures of 6-73 from Matt Critchley led Derbyshire to a nine-wicket victory over Leicestershire on Day Three at the Fischer County Ground.

The leg-spinner was the standout performer in a brilliant team effort on the third afternoon, with Ed Barnes (2-24), Dustin Melton (1-25) and Leus du Plooy (1-16) also claiming wickets.

Harry Dearden (47) and Harry Swindells (41 not out) top-scored for Leicestershire, as they posted a total of 220 in their second innings, before Luis Reece (4 not out) and Wayne Madsen (2 not out) saw Derbyshire to victory.

The opening pairing of Callum Parkinson and Hassan Azad put up a resolute fight at the beginning of Day Three, adding a further 32 runs before Ed Barnes claimed his maiden first-class wicket to bowl the former.

Ben Slater lasted just three balls before he nicked one to Wayne Madsen as he was dismissed for the first pair of his career, with Barnes completing a double-wicket maiden in the process.

After lunch, Harry Dearden led Leicestershire’s fightback, and he scored positively before he was caught by Luis Reece off Critchley for 47, while Azad was trapped lbw by du Plooy.

Dustin Melton took the deserved wicket of George Rhodes (8), before Critchley took control of the game with three wickets in just five balls. First, he dismissed Colin Ackermann (22) thanks to a blinding catch from Madsen, before Ben Mike (0) and Dieter Klein (0) both departed the crease without adding to the score.

At tea, Leicestershire were 167-8, but they lost their ninth wicket as Critchley claimed his five-wicket haul, having Will Davis (8) caught by Madsen.

The final wicket partnership of Swindells and Chris Wright frustrated Derbyshire, as they added 52 runs and forced the visitors to bat again, with Critchley dismissing the latter for 23, setting a total of 12 to win.

Despite the wicket of Billy Godleman (4), Derbyshire reached the target comfortably to go top of the North Group with 44 points, the most of any side in the country.

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