Madsen and Critchley guide Derbyshire to draw

Wayne Madsen and Matt Critchley’s century partnership epitomised a resilient batting performance on Day Four, as they guided Derbyshire to a draw against Durham at Emirates Riverside.

Madsen (74) and Critchley (69) scored stoic half-centuries to thwart Durham’s bid for victory and to maintain the visitors’ unbeaten run in the LV= County Championship. The pair’s stand of 138 is a new club-record for the fourth wicket against Durham.

Durham required ten wickets to record their first win of the campaign, while Derbyshire had to bat out 96 overs or attempt an ambitious push for a victory target of 384 at Emirates Riverside.

The home side claimed early wickets, but Madsen and Critchley combined for a stand of 138 to take the sting out of the game. Late strikes from Ben Raine and Paul Coughlin gave Durham hope, but they were forced to settle for a draw on home soil. As a result, both teams remain winless in Group One after their opening three matches.

In need of early wickets on the final day, Raine broke the opening stand by clean bowling Wood with a delivery that kept slightly low. However, in the theme of the day the Durham pace bowlers toiled on a flat pitch.

Skipper Scott Borthwick brought himself into the attack from the Finchale End and developed a good rhythm removing Luis Reece lbw for 32.

Further wickets eluded the hosts before the lunch break as Madsen and Leus du Plooy resisted Durham’s attempt to make further inroads. Raine returned at the start of the afternoon session and notched the key scalp of Du Plooy lbw. Richard Kettleborough deliberated over the decision, but opted to send the left-hander on his way. The in-form Critchley stabilised the innings with Madsen by raising the tempo, bringing up a stand of fifty from only 60 balls.

Madsen continued to thwart the Durham bowlers, and secured his second half-century of the match from 75 balls. Madsen and Critchley’s defiance allowed the duo to post their century stand before the tea break, inching the visitors towards safety.

Critchley joined Madsen in passing fifty after tea, cutting a wide delivery from Raine to the boundary. It continued the 24-year-old’s excellent start to the campaign, posting his fourth half-century in three games.

After a couple of close appeals from the hosts, Coughlin broke the partnership by pinning Critchley lbw for 69. but only after the duo produced a record fourth-wicket stand for Derbyshire against Durham. One wicket quickly became two as Madsen’s vigil was ended when Raine found the shoulder of his bat and Stuart Poynter took a sprawling catch.

Amid precise bowling from the home side with the new ball, Harvey Hosein (34 not out) and Brooke Guest (15 not out) were on point in their defence to allow the visitors to hold out for a draw.

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