Tony Palladino struck 82 from 67 balls as Derbyshire drew with Australia in the Bell & Co Tourist Fixture at The 3aaa County Ground.
Arriving at the crease when Derbyshire were 129-7, Palladino hit eight fours and four sixes in a blistering innings as the hosts were bowled out for 259 shortly before tea.
Australia were 95-1 in their second innings with Michael Clarke unbeaten on 44, when they declared and the two Captains decided to shake hands on a draw at 4.55pm.
Mitchell Marsh grabbed two wickets in his first over on the third morning as he had Scott Elstone caught at gully for 19 and Wayne Madsen lbw for 18. He then had Tom Knight caught at slip by Adam Voges for three shortly after, before Fawad Ahmed bowled Jonathan Clare to leave Derbyshire 116-6.
Harvey Hosein played well for his 17 but he was caught at long leg by Shane Watson off the bowling of Peter Siddle to bring Palladino to the crease, who had scored his only first-class century against Australia ‘A’ in 2012.
Palladino played expansively on the cusp of lunch alongside David Wainwright, before reaching his half-century in the afternoon session from just 40 balls after a flurry of boundaries against the leg-spin of Ahmed.
68.4: #FIFTY! @apalladino28 moves on to 53* from just 40 balls after a flurry of boundaries! 202-7 #DERvAUS #P2bD pic.twitter.com/8FUtj0ZgJw
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) July 25, 2015
An eighth-wicket stand of 105 came to an end as Wainwright was snared at slip off the bowling of Marsh for 38. Palladino was finally dismissed not long after for an entertaining 82, with substitute fielder Nathan Lyon taking the catch at deep mid-wicket to give Ahmed his second wicket.
Ahmed grabbed his third wicket as he bowled Harry White as Derbyshire were dismissed for 259 after recovering from 129-7.
Clarke opened the batting for Australia alongside regular opener Shaun Marsh as the pair guided Australia through to the tea interval on 51-0 before the latter elected to retire out on 30 to give Adam Voges time in the middle.
Australia were 95-1 when they opted to declare, with the two captains shaking hands on a draw to bring the Bell & Co Tourist Fixture to a close.
Click here to view the Scorecard >>
Kids go FREE for Derbyshire Falcons’ opening home fixture in the Royal London One-Day Cup versus Yorkshire Vikings on Monday 27 July. Buy in advance and save £4!
[ticketbuttons]
