Evening Report

Derbyshire had reached 210-2 from 64 overs at tea and the Derby floodlights were on when play resumed under the gun-metal grey skies as Timm van der Gugten and Michael Hogan looked to make further inroads into the Derbyshire batting. Wayne Madsen however pulled the Dutchman for four before Brooke Guest on-drove him for three. The latter also unfurled a rasping square-cut against van der Gugten prior to completing his first hundred of the season from 196 balls by cover-driving Labuschagne, who having delivered an over of spin before tea, briefly returned in seam-up mode.

Labuschagne was also cover driven by Madsen as he completed his fifty from 88 balls before the Peakite batter square-cut David Lloyd who returned for a further spell before the new ball was taken during the 81st over as Michael Neser and Hogan returned, with the former finding the edge of Madsen’s bat with the ball speeding away to the ropes at third man. But next over Neser removed Madsen l.b.w. for 70 as Glamorgan secured a bowling point with Leus du Plooy becoming Guest’s new partner with Derbyshire on 276.

The new batter began by cover-driving Neser but Hogan then removed Guest as he re-arranged his stumps with a beauty. Sam Connors came in as night-watchman but next over he departed l.b.w. to Neser as Matty McKiernan belatedly arrived in the middle after three wickets had tumbled in 28 balls for five runs. Van der Gugten returned at the City End but after four balls the light deteriorated further play ended early.

Afternoon Update

Derbyshire had been restricted to 74-1 from 31 overs by an accurate Glamorgan attack, with Michael Hogan and Michael Neser returning for a second spell after the interval. Shan Masood – who had also survived a loud appeal for l.b.w. before lunch - flicked Hogan to square-leg for four before off-driving Neser, having in the space of four deliveries struck as many boundaries as he done from 81 deliveries before lunch. He celebrated next ball by pulling Neser for another four prior to driving Hogan to the ropes at mid-wicket to complete a 93-ball fifty.

Masood’s flurry of boundaries continued as he square-drover Neser but, on 60, his prolific sequence came to an end as Hogan belied his years by diving full length to his right in his follow through to complete a one-handed catch as Masood got a leading edge to an attempted on-drive. 115-2 heralded the arrival of Wayne Madsen who, after a couple of singles, straight-drove Hogan for four before later in the same over drilling him through extra-cover.
David Lloyd also had a second spell at the City End and was cover-driven for four by Guest who then survived an appeal for run-out as he scampered back for a second run against the Glamorgan captain. James Harris also returned for a fresh spell and was driven through the covers and mid-on in consecutive deliveries by Guest as he completed his fifty from 123 balls with a square-cut against the all-rounder.

Guest also nurdled Lloyd to the vacant third man boundary before Salter returned to the attack shortly before tea and nearly removed Madsen who miscued an expansive drive just out of the reach of extra cover. Guest though unfurled a pair of crisply-struck on-drives against the off-spinner.

Morning Update

Derbyshire’s victory last week over Leicestershire, set up by Shan Masood’s second consecutive double-century has catapulted the Peakites into second place in the Division Two table whilst Glamorgan’s defeat at home to Middlesex has seen the Welsh county slip from top spot to fourth place. With 611 runs already to his name this season, Masood was looking to break Nick Compton’s record of 715 runs, set in 2012 for Somerset, for the most scored in first-class cricket during April, as well as being the first-ever batter in the history of the game by scoring three successive double-hundreds.

The Pakistani opened the batting this morning with Billy Godleman after the latter won the toss and opted to bat at a cloudy and chilly Derby. The two Michaels – Hogan and Neser - shared the new ball for a Glamorgan side showing one change from their last match with Tom Cullen replacing Callum Taylor. Godleman struck the day’s first boundary as he swatted a short ball from Neser for four before next over deftly glancing the Australian to fine-leg. Both bowlers beat the outside edge of the bat during a probing spell whilst Masood nearly chopped a short ball from Hogan onto his stumps.

Hogan’s accuracy and parsimony was rewarded in the twelfth over as he Godleman edged into Chris Cooke’s gloves. 22-1 saw Brooke Guest join Masood and he began by nurdling Hogan for four before James Harris replaced Hogan at the City End with Timm van der Gugten also having a spell at the Racecourse End. After 72 minutes at the crease, Masood struck his first boundary as he clipped Harris to deep square-leg before bringing up the fifty in the 21st over by cover-driving van der Gugten.

Guest then cover-drove Harris before David Lloyd had a spell at the City End and found the edge of Masood’s bat, only for the ball to fly through third slip, beyond the outstretched hands of Marnus Labuschagne and away to the vacant ropes at third man.

Evening Report

David Lloyd and Marnus Labuschagne resumed on 106-1 after tea with the Glamorgan captain having reached the career landmark of 4,000 runs shortly before the interval having shared a splendid century opening stand with Andrew Salter. Derbyshire opted for the leg-breaks of Mattie McKiernan plus the skiddy pace of Sam Connors when play began after the interval.

Lloyd drilled Connors through mid-off for four before flicking the next delivery behind square and caressing the next through backward point for a trio of boundaries from consecutive deliveries. But Anuj Dal returned to the fray and removed Lloyd as he edged to slip where Wayne Madsen completed a head high catch. 126-2 saw the arrival of Sam Northeast and he began by drilling his first delivery through extra-cover before being dropped at second slip as he edged Connors.

Labuschagne on-drove Dal for a pair of high-class fours before Northeast greeted the return of Lakmal by languidly cover-driving the Sri Lankan as the 150 was reached in the 35th over. Northeast also cover drove Connors whilst Labuschagne, after a further period of quiet reconnaissance, flicked Connors to square-leg for four followed by a glorious cover-drive for four. Thomson returned to the fray in the final hour with Northeast flicking the off-spinner to the ropes at fine-leg before Labuschagne drilled him through extra-cover.

A firmly-struck drive behind square on the on-side by Northeast against Sidebottom saw Glamorgan to the 200-mark and a first batting point in the 49th over. Northeast cover drove Dal for four en route, before Madsen joined the attack at the Racecourse End in the final half-hour. After nearly running out Labuschagne as he deflected a drive onto the stumps at the bowler’s end, the veteran trapped Northeast l.b.w. for 49 as the batter attempted a sweep.
Kiran Carlson duly joined Labuschagne for the closing overs during which the Australian reached his fifty from 71 deliveries after lofting Madsen for six over long-on. But having cover driven Dal, Carlson was edged Lakmal into Guest gloves as Timm van der Gugten came in as night-watchman.

Teatime Update

Derbyshire had reached 360-8 at lunch with Glamorgan looking to quickly polish off their innings, with Andrew Salter duly striking with his third delivery as Lakmal looked to hit the off-spinner in the direction of the city centre, but ended up lofting the ball towards deep mid-wicket where Marnus Labuschagne, like a rugby full-back, took a fine catch running back before sliding on his knees to safely pouch the ball as it descended over his shoulders from the heavens. Neser then ended the innings as Ryan Sidebottom edged to first where David Lloyd completed a regulation catch before sprinting off to pad up with Salter as Glamorgan began their reply under pleasant sunshine.

Sam Connors and Lakmal shared the new ball with Salter nurdling the latter for four before Lloyd firmly on-drove the former. The Glamorgan captain then repeated the stroke when Sidebottom replaced Lakmal at the City End before Salter pulled Conners for four. Lloyd then repeated the stroke against Sidebottom who was then swatted by Salter through mid-off with a cross-batted stroke which would have won acclaim at Wimbledon.

The fifty came up in the 16th over with Lloyd on-driving Anuj Dal for four when he entered the attack, followed by a deft flick to fine-leg. Salter continued to make hay in the sunshine as he unfurled a flowing cover-drive followed by a savage pull, both against Sidebottom, when the Anglo-Australian switched to the Racecourse End shortly before tea. Lloyd also flicked Dal to the ropes at long-leg before square-cutting Alex Thomson for four as he completed his fifty from 79 balls. He celebrated by square-cutting and pulling Sidebottom for a pair of rasping fours before bringing up the hundred in the 26th over by sweeping Thomson for four. But in the penultimate over before the interval, a mix-up in calling saw Salter run out as he attempted a second run.

Morning Update

After the early finish because of bad light last night, Derbyshire resumed this morning on 282-5 having lost three wickets in sixteen balls after Glamorgan had taken the new ball and reaped the reward for their accuracy and perseverance earlier in the day when the seam bowlers had regularly beaten, and found, both the outside and inside edges of the Peakites’ bats. A couple of l.b.w. appeals went in the favour of the home batters so the Welsh county were eager to polish thigs off this morning.

Michael Neser struck with his fourth delivery as Mattie McKiernan edged into Chris Cooke’s gloves to give him his 200th catch in first-class cricket for Glamorgan. Anuj Dal joined Leus du Plooy and was also beaten outside off stump by the waspish pace of Neser before straight-driving a slower ball from the Australian. Van der Gugten began with five successive maidens before being on-driven for four by du Plooy as well as to the ropes at square-leg by Dal.

James Harris returned at the Racecourse End and was cover-driven by Dal before Michael Hogan returned at the Racecourse End and in his second over removed Dal who edged to David Lloyd at first slip. Alex Thomson announced his arrival by plonking Andrew Salter, who had returned at the City End, over long-on for six before du Plooy off-drove Hogan. Thomson then pulled Hogan behind square for another lusty boundary before drilling Salter to the ropes at deep mid-wicket. However, next over, Salter trapped du Plooy l.b.w.

355-8 saw the arrival of Surinder Lakmal who advanced down the wicket to his first delivery and hoisted Salter over cow-corner for four

Close of Play Report

Having lost Masood to the final ball before tea, Brooke Guest joined Godleman as Derbyshire resumed on 60-1 after the interval. But in his second over of the session, Timm van der Gugten suffered a hamstring niggle with James Harris completing the over at the Racecourse End before removing Godleman with the first delivery of his second over as, like Masood before tea, he feathered a rising delivery into Cooke’s gloves.

73-2 saw Wayne Madsen join Guest and he began by drilling a no ball from Harris through the covers before edging to third man, flicking another delivery to square-leg and cutting another through point. He continued his boundary-laden cameo by sweeping Salter to the ropes before again cutting Harris through backward point. Michael Hogan duly returned to the attack and was scythed square of the wicket by Guest.

David Lloyd also had a trundle at the City End before Michael Neser had a second salvo at the Racecourse End as the scoring rate dropped with no boundaries being conceded for eleven overs with the sequence ending as Guest dabbed Lloyd to third man. After surviving a loud appeal for l.b.w. Guest cover-drove Neser before Madsen completed his quixotic fifty from 71 balls having raced to 26 from his first 11 deliveries and all despite the distraction of flashing lights from a disco being set up in a hospitality marquee which led to a short break in play. In the penultimate over Guest survived a confident appeal for caught behind against Lloyd as Derbyshire ended on 170-2

Afternoon Update

Glamorgan were on 339-6, with Labuschagne unbeaten on 116, when play resumed after lunch as Sam Conners and Suranga Lakmal strove to make further inroads. Labuschagne had other ideas as he sweetly drilled Conners through the covers - a stroke which his partner Tom Cullen emulated later in the over. But, with the total on 354, Cullen inside edged a full-length delivery from Lakmal onto his stumps with the Sri Lankan claiming another wicket eight runs later as he caught and bowled Michael Neser.

In his next over Lakmal ended Labuschagne’s tenure of the crease as he trapped the Australian l.b.w. for 130. Michael Hogan responded by clubbing his first ball through mid-off for four before wiping off the arrears with another lusty blow. James Harris also drove Sidebottom for four through mid-off before miscuing a pull to the vacant third man position followed by a lofted on-drive to mid-wicket. Hogan swiped Lakmal over point for another four but then holed out to Shan Masood at mid-off next ball as the Glamorgan innings ended on 387 as Lakmal completed a spell of 4-17 in 24 balls.
The pair were swiftly back in action with bat and ball respectively as Shan Masood and Billy Godleman began Derbyshire’s second innings with the Pakistani needing 45 to break Nick Compton’s record of 715 runs in 2012 for the most-ever runs scored during April in first-class cricket in the UK. He began with a booming cover-drive for four against Neser whilst his partner flicked Hogan to the ropes at fine-leg.

Masood began with a series of well-timed fours as he off-drove Hogan to wipe off the arrears before straight-driving Neser and cover-driving Hogan. He then greeted the introduction of Timm van der Gugten into the attack by flicking him to backward square-leg before Andrew Salter entered the attack at the City End and was driven inside-out over extra-cover by the Pakistani as the 50 came up in the fourteenth over.

With Godleman dropping anchor at the other end, Masood moved closer and closer to his milestone but needing three to breaking Compton’s record he was caught behind in the final over before tea as he edged van der Gugten into Cooke’s gloves.

Morning Report

An advertising poster in the window of a fast-food chain in Derby city centre proclaimed “Go Large and Savour the Experience!” A couple of miles away at the Incora County Ground the message by Matthew Maynard to his team this morning may well have been the same as his team began the third day of their contest against Derbyshire on 240-4, still 128 runs in arrears, but in a position where they could, by batting throughout the day, amass a commanding lead over the Peakites. Their position would have been even better had it not been for a little stutter in the closing overs last night at the end of a day which had also seen the Welsh county’s bowlers prevent the Derbyshire batters from reaching a commanding total in excess of 400 on what appears to be a docile, but true surface.

Timm van der Gugten, the nightwatchman, struck the day’s first boundary as he on-drove Alex Thomson for four before repeating the shot against Sam Connors as Glamorgan garnered a second batting point. Marnus Labuschagne’s first four came from a deft nurdle to third man against Suranga Lakmal followed by a firm on-drive against Connors and a fierce pull next ball to the ropes at mid-wicket. The effervescent Australian also completed an all-run four as he clipped Lakmal to deep mid-wicket before pulling him for another boundary to backward square-leg.

Another batting point came Glamorgan’s way as they reached the 300-mark in the 74th over with Labuschagne also finding the ropes again as he opened the face of his bat to delicately steer Sidebottom to third man. Three balls later he under-edged Sidebottom with the ball bisecting slip and the wicket-keeper before flicking Anuj Dal to fine-leg to complete his sixth century for the Welsh county and the first since scoring two in the match against Worcestershire at Cardiff during the first week of July 2019.

With the new ball looming, the spinners were re-introduced with van der Gugten cover-driving Alex Thomson for four, but next over, the Dutch international lofted the leg-breaks of Mattie McKiernan into the hands of long-on. 321-5 saw the arrival of Chris Cooke before Derbyshire took the new ball for the 81st over. As in the Peakites innings, a wicket soon fell as Cooke departed l.b.w. to Conners, and there should have been a second in the over but McKiernan, at first slip, spilled an edge from Tom Cullen.

Close of Play Report

With 35 overs remaining in the game, Glamorgan’s target after tea was to score a further 230 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Northeast began in purposeful vein with the former flicking Sam Conners to the ropes at fine-leg before biffing him through extra-cover. He then pulled Suranga Lakmal for four to mid-wicket before Northeast straight-drove Conners.

Labuschagne found the ropes again as he on-drove Lakmal but he had a second life, on 74, as Guest failed to cling onto a sharp chance as the Australian edged Sidebottom. Northeast also found the ropes in successive deliveries from Lakmal as he drove the Sri Lanka through mid-off and backward point as the equation became 176 from 24 overs. Labuschagne appeared to be moving closer to his second century of the match as he gloriously cover-drove Sidebottom, but next ball he repeated the stroke and was well caught at extra-cover by Shan Masood for 85. Kiran Carlson replaced him before Northeast punched Sidebottom off the back foot through extra-cover followed next over by a crisp on-drive.

Carlson struck his first boundary as he on-drove Anuj Dal before punching successive balls from Conners through extra-cover. Northeast then swept Alex Thomson for four to bring up the 200 before Carlson pulled him for six over the Old Pavilion as the task became 123 runs from the last sixteen overs with Lakmal returning at the City End. Northeast late-cut the Sri Lankan before pulling him to fine-leg to complete his fifty from 69 balls whilst Carlson launched Dal over mid-off for four as the target dropped below the 100-mark. But with 98 needed, Carlson edged a ball from Lakmal into Guest’s gloves as Chris Cooke arrived in the middle. Northeast responded by pulling Lakmal for four whilst Cooke did the same to Connors before nurdling Lakmal to the ropes at third man and launching Connors over extra-cover as their task became 72 from 54 balls.

Cooke then pulled Lakmal for four before scything him through the covers for a rasping four with Derbyshire having eight fielders positioned along the boundary’s edge, Northeast continued to work the ball around for one’s and two’s. But with the total on 282 Cooke’s breezy cameo ended as he holed out at long-on with Michael Neser joining Northeast as the equation became 47 from 36 balls. The burly Australian pulled Conners for six before scampering a series of singles until skewing a drive into the hands of backward point.

Tom Cullen made his way to the middle as Glamorgan’s task became 32 from 24 balls but he was bowled by Ryan Sidebottom with just a single to his name as James Harris became Northeast’s new partner during what became a wicket maiden. Northeast responded by harpooning Dal for a huge six over mid-wicket as Glamorgan entered the penultimate over still needing 23 to win. But after a dot ball, Northeast holed out at deep backward point as his fine innings ended on 81. Timm van Der Gugten, with Carlson as his runner and defended stoutly as Lakmal bowled the final over.

Afternoon Update

The floodlights were on at Derby as the home side resumed after lunch on 287-2 with David Lloyd and Andrew Salter continuing the bowling. There were signs of greater urgency from the Derbyshire batters as Brooke Guest swatted a full toss from Salter for six followed by a firm on drive for four. He then hoisted Lloyd over mid-wicket for six before Madsen swept Salter for four followed by a straight drive against Lloyd as the lead went past the 300-mark. Madsen then hoiked and hooked Lloyd for successive fours before Guest was caught down the legside by Chris Cooke against Salter, whereupon the Peakites declared leaving Glamorgan with a target of 331 runs in 55 overs.

After the ten-minute interval, Lloyd and Salter re-appeared in batting guise but it was only a brief stay for the latter as, with a single on the board, he edged Suranga Lakmal into the hands of Leus du Plooy at third slip. Lloyd then edged Sam Conners over the head of second slip before regally pulling him to mid-wicket. Labuschagne began with an imperious cover drive for four against Conners before a pair of deft nurdles to the vacant third man position followed by a savage pull to square-leg.

Lloyd found the ropes again as he square-drove Ryan Sidebottom before Labuschagne on-drove Anuj Dal to bring up the fifty, followed by a sublime steer through backward point. With the total on 56-1, Labuschagne had a life as he edged Sidebottom into the slips where he was dropped at first slip. He rubbed salt into the wounds of the Derbyshire side by driving Dal to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Alex Thomson’s spin was then introduced with Labuschagne lofting his first delivery over long-on for six before lofting another delivery in his second over high over the mid-wicket ropes for six en route to a 49-ball fifty. Lloyd then dispatched successive deliveries from Sidebottom through mid-on for a pair of fours but on 49 he was trapped l.b.w. by Sidebottom.

Morning Report

Derbyshire began this morning on 170-2, with a lead of 151 runs under gun-metal grey skies and against an attack missing Timm van der Gugten with a hamstring strain. Andrew Salter and Marnus Labuschagne resumed the bowling duties against Wayne Madsen and Brooke Guest, with the latter completing his fifty from 137 balls as Derbyshire steadily accumulated against the two spinners. Guest struck the day’s first boundary as he on-drove Salter.

Neser then returned to the fray in place of Labuschagne and was cover-driven twice by Guest as the lead went past the 200-mark. James Harris also had a spell at the Racecourse End as Labuschagne switched to the City End and was swatted for a pair of fours by Guest who for the second time in the game entered the nineties.

He duly reached his hundred by square-cutting Labuschagne as he became the first Derbyshire batter to score a century in each innings of a Championship match against Glamorgan and the first for any county since Ian Bell, now a batting consultant with the Peakites, who achieved the feat for Warwickshire at Colwyn Bay in 2018.

Madsen, continued to accumulate in one’s and two’s until off-driving Harris for four to bring up the 200-run partnership, prior to completing his hundred by swatting Salter through the covers.