Bowlers strike on Day One

Four Derbyshire bowlers shared eight wickets on Day One of the Bob Willis Trophy fixture against Lancashire at Aigburth. 

With the side competing for a place in the final at Lord’s, Dustin Melton (3-46), Sam Conners (2-25), Luis Reece (2-49) and Matt Critchley (1-39) all made crucial contributions as Derbyshire picked up two bowling points.

Lancashire will resume on Day Two on 206-8, with Tom Hartley unbeaten on eight and Jack Morley yet to score.

Having lost the toss, Derbyshire were asked to bowl first at Aigburth, and Conners made the best possible start for Billy Godleman’s side, trapping Keaton Jennings lbw with the first delivery of the contest.

Jennings’ opening partner, Alex Davies, suffered the same fate just 19 balls later, when Reece had him lbw without a run to his name, leaving the hosts 2-2 in the fourth over.

The 56-run partnership of Josh Bohannon and Rob Jones brought some resistance to the Lancashire innings, before Melton made the breakthrough by having the latter caught by Leus du Plooy for 23.

Derbyshire made a strong start to the afternoon session too, with Reece striking to have Dane Vilas (5) caught behind in the first over after the interval, while Melton claimed his second wicket when George Lavelle (13) was trapped in front.

Bohannon reached his half-century in 125 balls, including five fours, as Lancashire went to tea on 148-5, with the visitors aiming to pick up maximum bowling points in the final session of the day.

However, the top-order batsman continued to frustrate the Derbyshire bowlers for an hour of the evening session, before Melton had him caught by Hudson-Prentice just six runs short of his second first-class century.

Conners claimed the wicket of Balderson (36) late in the day, but there was still time for Critchley to have Danny Lamb (8) caught by du Plooy to move Derbyshire within one wicket of maximum bowling points.

Lancashire will begin Day Two on 206-8, with Hartley (8 not out) and Morley yet to score.

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