Guest hits century on Day One

Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest scored a career-best unbeaten 145 to frustrate Division Two leaders Durham in the LV=Insurance County Championship game at Derby.

Guest backed-up his hundred against Sussex at Hove last week with another accomplished display to steer Derbyshire to 317 for 6 after Durham had put them in.

Wayne Madsen made 62 and shared a third wicket stand with Guest of 118 in 32 overs before he fell to England fast bowler Matty Potts who took 2 for 57 from 20 overs.

Durham’s decision to bowl first was probably based on the overhead conditions rather than the pitch which played well once the sun broke through.

But while there was cloud cover, the openers were challenged by Potts and Ben Raine who saw Luis Reece dropped on three at second slip by David Bedingham.

It did not prove costly as Reece, who along with Harry Came has signed a two year contract extension, offered no shot to a ball from Raine that took out his off stump in the 11th over of the morning.

Durham had to wait another 14 overs for their second success with Potts removing Came with a full length ball that straightened to bowl him for 16.

Madsen almost went first ball, edging Potts just short of first slip and there was more frustration for the paceman when he squared Madsen up but the ball flew over the slip cordon.

Potts had the chance to remove Madsen on 14 in the fourth over after lunch when an edge off Brydon Carse went low to him in the gully but the ball went through his hands.

It was a miss Durham were made to pay for as Guest and Madsen played with increasing authority in bright sunshine.

Guest drove Migael Pretorious through the covers for his ninth four to reach 50 from 103 balls before Madsen greeted Matt Parkinson by sweeping him for four.

He came down the pitch to the leg spinner and lifted him over mid on for his eighth boundary to go to 50 off 73 balls and the runs continued to flow with the century stand coming up from 157 deliveries.

Durham were desperate for a wicket and Potts provided it when he found some extra bounce to have Madsen caught in the gully by Alex Lees.

Haider Ali survived a close lbw shout against Potts but announced his intentions in the last over before tea by launching Parkinson into the seats behind long on.

It completed a good session for the hosts with Guest 13 runs short of another hundred which he completed in the eighth over after the restart by sweeping Parkinson for his 15th four.

Guest faced 181 balls and showed good judgement to bat his side into a promising position against the top side in the division.

The stand with Ali was worth 70 when Durham got a fourth wicket in bizarre fashion. The Pakistan right hander went to sweep Scott Borthwick, survived a confident lbw appeal but set off for a run that was never on and was stumped.

That brought in Leus du Plooy who needed 21 to complete 1,000 championship runs for the season but made only two before he scooped Borthwick low to cover.

Durham should have removed Guest on 122 when he edged Raine behind but Ollie Robinson could not hold on and he took advantage to pass his previous best score of 138 against Glamorgan last season.

Raine claimed his second wicket when he bowled Anuj Dal but Guest made sure it was Derbyshire’s day.

Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest said: “Getting stuck in to bat, the ball has done a bit all day, every credit to them they bowled well but for us to be in this position I think we have definitely won the day.

“If we can make use of the wickets we’ve still got then hopefully we can get a big first innings score.

“Form and momentum is a funny thing, the start of the season didn’t go exactly how I planned it apart from the Leicester game so it’s nice that I’ve now got into the swing of things and hopefully I can hit my straps in the back end of the season and do really well.”

On batting at number three and keeping wicket he said: “We work hard in the winter to get in the best physical condition that we can to be able to go out there and hopefully have big games like this.

“The mentality of batting at three as well as keeping is about wanting to be involved in the game as long as possible, I want to be out there making an impact so when I get the chance it’s nice to put my stamp on the game.”

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