McKiernan hits century on Day Three

Mattie McKiernan struck a scintillating 101, as Derbyshire rounded off pre-season with a draw against Cardiff UCCE at the Incora County Ground.

Mitchell Wagstaff (89) also stood out on the score card, as the third-wicket pair put on a partnership of 165 to push Derbyshire to 277-4.

Harrison Ward (78) and James Palmer (50 not out) led an impressive fightback for the visitors during the final session of the encounter.

The hosts began the day with the bat, having run up a score of 20-1 at the close of play on day two. All-rounder Alex Hughes opened the morning with 12 runs already on the board and found the rope a further four times over the next 57 balls but was dismissed for 34 shortly before lunch by a sumptuous Saihaj Jaspal delivery.

Opening batsman Wagstaff put together the foundations of an excellent innings as he reached his half-century in the early session. The 17-year-old stayed at the crease for much of the day and oversaw a fruitful third-wicket partnership with McKiernan, who smashed four sixes on his way to chalking up 101 runs from 91 balls. McKiernan looked to add a fifth maximum when he was caught by Lorenzo Machado agonisingly shy of the boundary.

Wagstaff eventually bowed out to a catch from Harry Johnson after hitting a measured 89 runs from 180 deliveries. Nafis Shaikh and Nils Priestly saw out Derbyshire’s innings and they declared over tea at 277-4, leaving Cardiff requiring 341 to win. Jaspal shone in the visitors’ attack, claiming a wicket and conceding just 23 runs from his 10-over spell.

Cardiff flew out of the blocks in the final session and had struck 39 runs within the first five overs. Harrison Ward put on a superb show as he raced to 78 off of just 46 balls, finding the boundary on 14 occasions. Opening partner James Palmer got in on the act too, notching up 50 runs of his own before the end of the day’s play.

Derbyshire begin their LV= County Championship campaign against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Thursday, April 8.

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