Matt Critchley and Luis Reece scored half-centuries as 11 wickets fell on Day One of the LV= County Championship opener against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Critchley (64) and Reece (63) helped to steady a Derbyshire innings that got off to a stuttering start, before an 86-ball final-wicket stand between Ben Aitchison (11 not out) and Sam Conners (9) moved the visitors to 189 all out.
Liam Norwell impressed with the ball, claiming 5-32, while Conners made an impact after just two deliveries, dismissing Will Rhodes as Warwickshire ended the opening day 13-1.
Captain Billy Godleman and Reece walked out to the middle with high hopes, but the former found himself out for a duck in the second over, after edging behind to keeper Michael Burgess off the bowling of Norwell, while Anuj Dal fell in the same over, leaving Derbyshire two wickets down with no runs scored.
It got worse before it got better for Derbyshire as Leus du Plooy became the third man to go for a duck, edging a wide one onto his leg stump off the bowling of Oliver Hannon-Dalby.
Derbyshire were left on 7-3 when Wayne Madsen made his way out. A 43-run partnership then followed between Madsen and Reece, before Madsen fell for 15 leaving Derbyshire on 50-4.
A fantastic 93-run partnership between Reece and Critchley followed, where they both hit fifties, taking Derbyshire through to 143-4. Critchley’s boundary hitting was a standout as he hit 11 fours, including four in the same Craig Miles over.
Luis Reece then fell after edging to second slip, allowing Norwell to claim his third of the day and break up what had been an important partnership.
Harvey Hosein was removed for two, while Critchley soon followed after edging behind to Tim Bresnan, giving Norwell his fifth.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice then went for 14 off the bowling of captain Will Rhodes and Michel Cohen was the next to fall for three leaving Derbyshire on 168-9.
A final wicket partnership of 21 between Conners and Ben Aitchison added valuable runs for Derbyshire, who finished 189 all out.
Warwickshire then faced a tough time in the middle at the end of the days play and Sam Conners made it even tougher when he removed captain Will Rhodes for LBW.
Not long after the wicket of Rhodes, play was stopped due to bad light, leaving Warwickshire 13-1 with Rob Yates unbeaten on ten and Dom Sibley (three not out) left at the crease.
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