Critchley and Madsen star on Day Three

Matt Critchley played a leading role with bat and ball on Day Three of Derbyshire’s LV= County Championship fixture against Worcestershire, while Wayne Madsen’s 66 cemented a good position for the hosts. 

Critchley  followed his first innings century by taking 5-67 before scoring 84 off 109 balls out of Derbyshire’s 268 for 5, a lead of 353, with Madsen contributing 66 from 88 balls.

The all-rounder is now only the second Derbyshire player to score a hundred, a fifty and take five wickets in an innings in the same match.

Derbyshire ended the day 353 runs in front on 268-5, with Harvey Hosein (33 not out) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (ten not out) to resume on the final morning at The Incora™ County Ground.

Alzarri Joseph scored 46 before Worcestershire were dismissed for 305 with Critchley breaking the eighth-wicket stand of 51 in 14 overs when Ed Barnard edged a drive to slip.

The all-rounder then plunged forward at cover to catch Joe Leach off Hudson-Prentice before he removed Joseph to claim his fifth wicket.

Joseph combined  watchful defence with controlled aggression, driving Critchley over long off for six to secure a third batting point before he was bowled trying to repeat the stroke.

Derbyshire lost Billy Godleman who had to retire with a suspected groin injury and Luis Reece who edged Joseph and Ben Cox took a fine diving catch as they built on a lead of 85.

Luis du Plooy was bowled by Barnard when he moved across his crease before the match stopped for the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

The extended final session was dominated by Critchley and Madsen who punished some indifferent bowling to tighten Derbyshire’s grip.

Critchley batted with the confidence of a player with a century and two fifties behind him although he was fortunate on 30 when he pulled Dillon Pennington into the hands of Tom Fell at long leg but he stepped over the rope.

He pulled the next ball for another six and reached fifty off 43 balls, adding 129 in 27 overs with Madsen who hit eight fours before he was lbw to Daryl Mitchell.

By then, Derbyshire’s lead was approaching 300 and Critchley was heading for a second century in the game until he played across the line at Mitchell and was bowled.

Brett D’Oliveira bowled Anuj Dal but Worcestershire face a tough battle to save the game on the final day, with Derbyshire’s lead already at 353.

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