Tom Taylor recorded career-best figures of 6-61, but a 100-run last-wicket stand helped give Lancashire the edge after Day Three at The 3aaa County Ground.
Taylor, in only his seventh first-class match, grabbed his second five-wicket haul of his career claiming the prized wicket of Alviro Petersen (9), before dismissing Steven Croft (70), Tom Smith (1) and Ashwell Prince (97) to add to the two he took the night before.
The hosts, however, were left frustrated as Lancashire’s last pair of Alex Davies (89) and Kyle Jarvis (17 not out) shared a century stand for the final week to post 345 and set Derbyshire 365 to win.
Graeme Welch’s men had 11 overs to face before stumps, but lost two wickets to end the day on 27-2, with Martin Guptill (9 not out) and night-watchmen Taylor (2 not out) at the crease.
Derbyshire got off to the perfect start early on Day Three as Taylor trapped first-innings centurion Petersen lbw, to reduce the visitors to 43-4.
Croft and Prince, however, led the Lancashire recovery and they helped fight off good spells from Taylor and Mark Footitt (1-53).
Prince went on to bring up his half-century in the second half of the session and the pair saw Lancashire through to the interval with a fine hundred partnership. The players took Lunch with the score at 144-4, with Lancashire now leading by 163 runs.
The partnership was finally broken after lunch with the score on 203, as Croft was caught by Durston off the bowling of Taylor for 70.
Smith followed shortly after as Taylor got his fifth wicket, before Prince fell three runs short of his century as a jubilant Taylor struck yet again to secure best figures of his career and leave the visitors on 214-7. Alex Davies and Tom Bailey guided the visitors to 242-7 at tea.
Derbyshire came out after the break all guns blazing and were rewarded straight away as Durston clean-bowled Bailey for 14. Kerrigan then went first ball to Palladino the following over, with Durston taking a smart catch to leave the score at 245-9.
But a last wicket stand of 100 between Davies, who hit a quick-fire 89, and Jarvis took Lancashire’s total to 345 all out. It was a record last wicket stand for Lancashire in first-class fixtures versus Derbyshire.
The hosts then lost both openers early on in their reply, but Guptill and night-watchman Taylor saw Derbyshire through to the close at 27-2, with the hosts requiring a further 338 runs to win on the final day.
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Photography: David Griffin
