Derbyshire batter, Matt Lamb, top-scored with 90 on the first day against the South Asian Cricket Academy.
Batting first, Mickey Arthur’s side declared at 293 for 6 at tea, while Anuj Dal and Zak Chappell both took wickets to reduce SACA to 53 for 2 at the close of play.
Opening pair Luis Reece and Harry Came shared a watchful opening stand before Manraj Johal found a way through left-handed Reece. Came went on to make 37 – before being given out leg-before-wicket, while captain David Lloyd and Brooke Guest scored 24 and 26, respectively.
Aneurin Donald smashed five fours and two sixes on his return to The County Ground, seeing him reach 38 from 26 balls before he was caught at mid-off.
It was left to Lamb and Dal to put on a 108-run partnership to pull Derbyshire through the first innings. Lamb reached his fifty from 60 balls with a huge six out on the leg-side and continued to score quickly. He was then dismissed just 10 runs short of his century, bowled by Armit Basra.
Dal and Alex Thomson then concluded the Derbyshire innings unbeaten with a 35-run stand before Arthur called back his players and declared on 293 at the tea break.
After the interval, the SACA opening batter Jakob Bhula was caught behind by Brooke Guest from the bowling of Zak Chappell to leave the visitors 6 for 1 after just 4.5 overs.
Dal then struck the top of off-stump in his third over to take the wicket of Zen Malik and put the visitors two down for 36.
SACA finished on a score of 53 for 2, as the umpires called an end to the days play due to poor light.
Derbyshire will continue their first preseason game of the 2024 campaign tomorrow, before they take on Leeds/Bradford UCCE on Sunday, as their opening Vitality County Championship clash against Gloucestershire looms closer.
