Ravi Rampaul took eight wickets in the match, but Derbyshire slipped to a narrow two-wicket defeat to Glamorgan in an enthralling final day of the Specsavers County Championship match at The Pattonair County Ground.
The 34-year-old took 3-55 in Glamorgan’s second innings, but Tom Cullen’s unbeaten 51 helped Glamorgan make their highest-ever fourth innings successful run-chase against Derbyshire.
Set 246 for victory, Glamorgan lost early wickets in the face of good Derbyshire bowling, but runs down the order meant the visitors got over the line in a tense final hour.
Derbyshire resumed on 171-9 and after putting on a 50-run stand for the final wicket in the first innings, Dal (23*) and Rampaul (30) put together their second half-century partnership of the match.
Rampaul eventually fell to the bowling of Marnus Labuschagne for 30, his best-ever score in for Derbyshire, giving the hosts a lead of 246 runs.
Tony Palladino got Derbyshire’s defence off to the perfect start, with Nick Selman (2) caught behind off his third ball.
Having taken five wickets in the first innings, Rampaul claimed his first of the second when he trapped Charlie Hemphrey for four.
Rampaul followed that up with another wicket four overs later when Labuschagne (32) was caught by Logan van Beek off the West Indian’s bowling.
Glamorgan went into lunch on 76-3, needing a further 170 runs to win.
After lunch, Rampaul claimed his third wicket of the innings when Billy Root (26) was given out lbw as Glamorgan lost their fourth wicket for less than 100 runs.
Glamorgan moved into three figures win the 30th over, needing less than 150 runs to win with six wickets still in hand.
After a resolute 37 from David Lloyd, Palladino struck to dismiss the Glamorgan batsman lbw.
Dan Douthwaite and Jeremy Lawlor had a 32-run partnership before the latter was dismissed by Matt Critchley, when he was caught by Luis Reece. Glamorgan still needed 100 runs to win with four wickets remaining.
Wayne Madsen picked up his first wicket of the match at a crucial when he caught and bowled Douthwaite for 31 shortly before tea.
However, a half-century partnership between Cullen and Andrew Salter for the eighth wicket put Glamorgan in a commanding position heading into the final hour of play.
The wicketkeeper-batsman brought up his half-century with the winning runs, hitting Critchley to the boundary to secure a two-wicket victory.
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[twentyticket]
