Ed Joyce hit his highest first-class score of 250, having shared a record-breaking 310-run stand with centurion Luke Wells, as Sussex dominated Day Two at The 3aaa County Ground.
The pair batted for over two sessions on the second day, in total facing over 84 overs and scoring 310 runs in what was Sussex’s highest partnership for any wicket against Derbyshire in first-class cricket.
Having begun the day on 83-1, Joyce and Wells took their side to within touching distance of 400, but both batsmen fell before the close, with all-rounder Shiv Thakor continuing his good form to return 3-59 in Sussex’s 450-5 at stumps.
Joyce and Wells batted carefully during the morning session against some tight Derbyshire bowling. The hosts could not pick up either batsmen during the morning, as they reached lunch on 153-1, having added 70 to their overnight score.
The pair pushed on after the interval, with Joyce reaching his century from 180 balls before Wells got to his half-century from 151 balls from the following delivery.
Runs began to flow more freely at the introduction of the new ball, which was dismissed to the rope several times by the imperious Joyce.
Wells went through to his 10th first-class century from the 232nd ball he faced, as the partnership passed 200 before the tea break, at which time Sussex were 293-1.
The run-rate increased drastically in the evening session, with Joyce hitting five successive boundaries at one point, before striking another three boundaries in a row to get to his double-century from 286 balls.
The partnership was eventually broken on 310 – the highest for Sussex against Derbyshire in first-class cricket – when Wells was caught by Wayne Madsen at slip off Wes Durston for 116.
Meanwhile, Joyce took his score beyond 234, which was his previous highest in first-class cricket, but saw Wells’ replacement Ross Taylor easily caught in the slips by Chesney Hughes off Thakor for six soon after.
Joyce’s mammoth innings ended on 250 when he was adjudged lbw to the bowling of Durston, having faced 327 deliveries and scored 34 fours, as well as two sixes.
In the next over, Thakor had his third of the innings when Matt Machan, on 12, edged him through to Tom Poynton behind the stumps as Derbyshire took two wickets whilst the score remained on 430.
They would not, however, pick up any further scalps as Sussex ended Day Two on 468-5 with a lead of 277 runs going into the third day.
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