Mark Footitt claimed career-best figures of 7-71 but Leicestershire’s lower order fought back on an entertaining Day One at The 3aaa County Ground.
Footitt returned the best figures of his career, and in the progress surpassed 70 LV= County Championship wickets for the season for a second successive campaign, to help reduce the visitors to 154-8 at one stage. But Zak Chappell, on first-class debut, hit 96 to help Leicestershire recover and post 329 in their first innings.
Billy Godleman (28 not out) reached his own milestone before stumps surpassing 1,000 LV= County Championship runs for the season. He and Slater (19 not out) guided Derbyshire to 54-0 at the close, with a deficit of 275 runs heading into Day Two.
Ned Eckersley and Angus Robson shared a brisk opening stand of 42 before Footitt struck twice in two balls, bowling both Robson and new batsman Dan Redfern.
Footitt then had Leicestershire Captain Mark Cosgrove caught by Slater at mid-on, while Eckersley became Footitt’s 70th LV= County Championship wicket of the season as he was caught at square-leg shortly after bringing up his half-century.
Congratulations to @footitt_mark who now has 70 @LV_Cricket wickets in 2015! Well bowled Mark! #DERvLEI #P2bD pic.twitter.com/w9gc0ED0Y4
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 22, 2015
Ben Cotton removed Niall O’Brien for 19 on the cusp of lunch with Footitt claiming his fifth wicket after the interval as Lewis Hill was caught by Godleman at second slip.
Footitt had Raine caught behind for his sixth wicket before Tom Milnes, who yesterday signed a two-year deal with Derbyshire, grabbed his maiden first-class wicket for the county as Aadil Ali edged through to Tom Poynton for 37.
Rob Taylor and Chappell shared a useful stand of 81 either side of the tea interval which frustrated the Derbyshire attack until Wes Durston had Taylor caught by Tom Knight at short-cover for 37.
Chappell passed fifty as he put on another sizeable partnership with number eleven Ollie Freckingham to take his side beyond 300. The 19-year-old fell four runs short of his century as he was bowled by Footitt, who finished with 7-71, and Leicestershire were finally dismissed for 329.
5.3: #1000RUNS! Godleman (15*) drives for four and has passed 1,000 @LV_Cricket runs in 2015! #DCCC 35-0 #DERvLEI pic.twitter.com/cYsz3A5wJ4
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 22, 2015
Opening batsmen Slater and Godleman got Derbyshire off to a bright start with the bat, with the latter passing 1,000 LV= County Championship runs for the season with a fittingly supreme cover drive for four. It’s the first time the opening batsman has reached the landmark in a season.
Derbyshire reached stumps with all their wickets intact despite the deteriorating light as they closed on 54-0 with a deficit of 275 runs heading into Day Two.
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Day Two of the LV= County Championship fixture between Derbyshire and Leicestershire begins at 10.30am at The 3aaa County Ground. Tickets are available to purchase on the gate.
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