Derbyshire beaten on final day

Derbyshire tasted defeat on the final day of their LV= County Championship fixture, as Essex won by an innings and 15 runs at the Cloudfm County Ground. 

Simon Harmer claimed his seventh County Championship 10-wicket, while Derbyshire’s second innings total of 251 wasn’t enough to force the hosts to bat again.

Harmer, who bowled unchanged from the River End on day four, took three for 122 in the second innings after a career-best nine for 80, for match analysis of 12 for 202. Jamie Porter and Sam Cook also took three scalps in the second innings.

Ryan ten Doeschate claimed six catches in the match, all at short-leg – the 14th occasion an Essex player has managed the feat and first since Alastair Cook versus Durham in 2004.

The win handed Essex the maximum 24 points to recharge their Division One ambition after three games without a success, while Derbyshire only secured a solitary point.

Brooke Guest, who completed his maiden first-class half-century the previous evening, and Billy Godleman continue to frustrate Essex as their partnership hit 212 balls, and 97 runs.

But a change of ball, after Guest had swept into the brick wall in front of the pavilion, brought about an immediate change. Porter angled in to Godleman to wrap the former Essex man on the pads.

Four overs later Guest made a rare misstep on 65, as he offered no shot to Sam Cook and was also given lbw.

Lues du Plooy and Wayne Madsen were both dropped either side of lunch – the former dropped by Alastair Cook at first slip and the latter survived sweeping at leg slip Dan Lawrence.

Essex’s close in fielders continued to chunter noisily about going bang-bang, and finally got their wish as Madsen and du Plooy’s stand ended in quick succession, having been together for 19 overs.

Madsen tickled onto his thigh pad before Ryan ten Doeschate swooped at short-leg to give Harmer his first of the innings, having been wicketless for 29.5 overs.

In the following over, Shane Snater drew an edge out of du Plooy with Alastair Cook holding on at first slip.

Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley chewed up another 15 overs before another bang-bang as Harmer and ten Doeschate teamed up for the sixth time in the match.

Hosein was the victim of some panther-like reactions after a thick inside edge before Fynn Hudson-Prentice went back and looped to the Netherlands international off his leg.

Matt Critchley was the next to depart when Jamie Porter struck with the second new ball as he edged to Alastair Cook.

Sam Cook completed the emphatic victory when Billy Stanlake chipped to mid-on before Alex Hughes sliced to point.

Essex have now beaten Derbyshire by an innings in four of their last five meetings, with this win coming despite a washed-out opening day and 147 overs lost in the match.

Secure priority entry with 2021 Membership.

Be the first to see Derbyshire in action, with exclusive Members’ access to the LV= County Championship fixture against Durham, starting on Thursday 20 May, as well as priority entry to all other home fixtures.

Membership is the best value way to follow Derbyshire as we celebrate the historic 150th anniversary of our first match, with a host of other Member Exclusives included too.

Club Membership for the 2021 season is on sale now, priced at just £199. Members to have priority entry and all Memberships backed by our new guarantees.