Bowlers on top on action-packed third day

By Dominic Toner

A strong performance from the Leicestershire bowling unit on day three meant that they would be chasing 273 runs to win but Derbyshire hit back in the last 21 overs to leave the hosts on 56-4.

Leicestershire lost Angus Robson (4), Ned Eckersley (13), Mark Cosgrove (9) and Lewis Hill (21) to leave the team requiring 217 more runs to win with six second innings wickets remaining.

Earlier Clint McKay bowled an inspired spell after tea in which he took four wickets for seven runs in 27 balls to restrict the visitors to 241 all out after they had been 173-3 in the afternoon session.

Ben Raine continued his terrific season by taking his 50^th first class wicket of the season for the first time in his career with a three-for in the Derbyshire second innings.

The key figure for Derbyshire was Billy Godleman (101) who hit his first century of the season, whilst the other batsmen made small contributions along the way.

In the morning the Foxes added ten runs to the overnight score as they were bowled out for 314. First Rob Sayer (23) was removed by Tillakaratne Dilshan after edging one to Wayne Madsen at first slip and soon after McKay (18) was bowled by Mark Footitt, who completed his fourth five-for of the season and finished with figures of 22.2-10-53-5.

The Derbyshire opening batsmen purposely went about building on their lead of 31 runs as Ben Slater and Godleman put on a strong 50 partnership.

All seemed to be going well for the visitors until Charlie Shreck made the breakthrough with a great delivery that just clipped the top of the stump to dislodge the bail and dismiss Slater (17).

First innings hero for the visitors Madsen came in to bat at number three looking to replicate another big score. However he fell just before lunch for 22 when a straight delivery from Raine broke his defences and hit the stumps.

The Foxes managed to claim two wickets during the morning session but Derbyshire went in to lunch 96-2 with a lead of 127.

Godleman continued a confident knock and he bought up his half century just after lunch in 79 balls which included some eye-catching fours in the process.

Experienced batsman Dilshan was supporting from the other end but lost his wicket for 15 off the bowling of Sayer, who, operating around the wicket, enticed an edge to Robson at slip.

The new man in Alex Hughes continued the trend of getting in and had moved on to 28 before he tried to attack Sayer but mistimed the shot and was caught by Cosgrove at mid-wicket, and the spinner went on to finish with figures of 21-2-59-2.

When Shiv Thakor came to the crease the Foxes were convinced they had him early. The bails appeared to lift following a Raine snorter but they somehow remained on top of the stumps so leg byes were signalled when the ball reached the boundary.

However they did get their man just after for 10 as Raine picked up his second wicket of the match and 50^th first-class wicket of the season when the batsman glanced one down the leg side to Niall O’Brien.

Despite losing partners regularly Godleman continued to kick on and reached 89 at tea along with Harvey Hosein unbeaten on 9, leaving the visitors 212-5 in their second innings and with a lead of 243 runs.

McKay fired the Foxes after tea and he trapped Hosein (9) lbw with the very first ball after the batsman opted to leave a ball that was heading for the stumps. Just two balls later he struck again, finding the edge of the new man Tony Palladino (0) with some extra bounce, the batsman being caught by Andrea Agathangelou in the slips.

McKay claimed his third victim when Wes Durston (1), hampered by a side injury, edged behind to wicketkeeper O’Brien, which left Derbyshire 220-8 at the time.

Despite the drama around him Godleman reached his century off 165 balls that included nine fours after a gutsy display. However the Foxes had their tails up and the very next ball saw Raine (15-3-53-3) dismiss the left hander when he edged one through to O’Brien.

McKay wrapped up the Derbyshire second innings with his fourth by finding the edge of Ben Cotton (5) who was well caught by Agathangelou at second slip leaving the Victorian with figures of 14.3-5-39-4.

With the Foxes requiring 273 runs to win the match the opening batsmen went about reaching the target however they lost Robson (4) in the second over after he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Cotton.

Number three batsman Eckersley (13) also lost his wicket when Thakor dismissed him lbw from a ball that kept low. Skipper Cosgrove (9) soon followed as he was also dismissed lbw, only this time off the bowling of Palladino.

Palladino struck once more before the end of play getting Hill (21) with the fourth consecutive lbw dismissal and leaving Leicestershire with a rebuilding job.

Aadil Ali (4) and O’Brien (3) set about that task and will start the day with Leicestershire requiring a further 217 to win.