Guest hits maiden half-century on rain-affected day

Brooke Guest scored a career-best 56 not out as Derbyshire recovered from a poor first innings to end Day Three 97-1 against Essex. 

Simon Harmer twirled career-best figures of 9-80 to put Essex in a commanding position on the third afternoon, with Derbyshire dismissed for 146, but improved second time around led by Guest and Billy Godleman (39 not out).

Guest and Alex Hughes batted for almost an hour to put on 44, after a washed-out first session, before Harmer, who had taken two in the day two gloom, started to wreak havoc.

Hughes ran past one to be stumped by Adam Wheater and Wayne Madsen, after striking two sixes, turned around the corner to leg slip.

Matt Critchley slogged a boundary over midwicket before giving Harmer his 23rd first-class five-wicket haul with a caught and bowled.

It wasn’t a classical Harmer Chelmsford pitch, with the ball not overly turning or bouncing, rather a perfect example of slight variation, confidence and reputation.

Although he got a helping hand from Ryan ten Doeschate at short leg to dismiss Harvey Hosein – with the 40-year-old reacting unbelievably to snaffle low down.

Guest, a day after turning 24, recorded his career-best 49 in a one-man rearguard before being adjudged caught by ten Doeschate bat-pad.

Billy Stanlake lost his middle stump and Dustin Melton was brilliantly caught and bowled as Harmer bested his previous best of nine of 95.

Ironically, both Harmer’s attempts at a ten-wicket haul have been thwarted by part-time spinner Dan Lawrence.

In four overs before bad light, and subsequently rain, Jamie Porter bowled Luis Reece – who was playing a short not befitting the situation of needing to bat a day and 40-odd overs to save a draw.

But Guest and Godleman showed resilience to put on 83, and more importantly, chew up 174 balls.

Guess beat his personal best for the second time in the day by bringing up his fifty in 89 deliveries and ended the day unbeaten on 56.

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