Runs continue to flow as match drawn
Sun 28 May 2017
Derbyshire versus Leicestershire, Specsavers County Championship, Day 4:
SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo HERE
INTERVIEW | Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn spoke to BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae at stumps, the interview is available HERE
HIGHLIGHTS | The highlights of the final day are available HERE
RESULT | Match drawn, Derbyshire 11 points, Leicestershire 11 points
REPORT | Runs continued to flow as the Specsavers County Championship match between Derbyshire and Leicestershire ended in a draw at the 3aaa County Ground.
Derbyshire's first innings came to its conclusion at 533, Zak Chappell finishing with a career-best 4-108 while Clint McKay worked tirelessly to claim 3-78 from 33 overs.
County then added 217-3 declared to their first innings score of 619 to set the hosts 304 to win from a minimum of 33 overs, Harry Dearden top-scoring with a fine 78.
Derbyshire reached 42 without loss after 10 overs before both teams agreed that a positive result was not possible. The match aggregate of 1,411 runs was the highest in Specsavers County Championship contests between the counties.
The result represented a third consecutive draw for Leicestershire, who have now lost just twice in 12 Specsavers County Championship matches on their travels.
Derbyshire resumed the final day 87 runs behind Leicestershire and added only one run to their overnight score of 532-8.
The home side lost their ninth wicket without further addition, McKay bowling a beautiful away-swinger that Rob Hemmings (19) feathered through to Lewis Hill. The 'keeper then took another catch as Chappell forced Tony Palladino (0) to fend off a rising delivery.
Dearden's first two boundaries of the second innings were superb shots through the covers. Inbetween, Horton survived a chance when edging Tom Taylor towards Wayne Madsen at first slip before reacting in fine fashion, guiding two consecutive fours through backward point in the next over from Hemmings.
The right-hander also hit back-to-back boundaries in Hemmings' next offering while Dearden pulled powerfully when Palladino entered the attack from the City End.
Leicestershire's openers extended their alliance beyond 50 for the fourth time in six innings and there were also two fours in the 14th over as Dearden unleashed another cover drive and Horton flicked one off his pads.
Jeevan Mendis was finding some turn from the Racecourse End but it was slow spin, the openers generally able to play the Sri Lanka international off the back foot.
Dearden nicked Palladino for four, profited from a set of four overthrows and also swept Mendis to the fence as Leicestershire progressed to 97 without loss at lunch. That represented a lead of 183 with a minimum of 65 overs remaining with the left-hander 48* and Horton 46*.
The opening stand reached three figures courtesy of a brace of no-balls before the batsmen reached respective half-centuries by collecting their seventh fours in the 29th over. Dearden was first to the landmark from 88 balls with Horton taking two fewer deliveries.
Leicestershire’s lead passed 200 and Dearden collected his eighth four before losing his colleague with the score at 125. Taylor found some extra bounce from a good line and length, and Horton (56) edged to Daryn Smit.
A couple of fours through straight mid-wicket took Dearden’s boundary tally into double figures but the batsman departed on 78 as Billy Godleman took a remarkable catch on the long-on boundary. The skipper stretched to parry the ball as he was crossing the rope before re-entering the field to complete the catch off Mendis.
It was an unselfish act from Dearden in the pursuit of quick runs. Cosgrove (15) also showed intent by smashing three boundaries in a 12-ball stay before he departed in the same manner as Dearden, albeit to a more straightforward effort from the fielder.
Eleven runs came off the 43rd over bowled by Mendis, including a pulled six from Eckersley and a swept four by Ackermann, before the number three batsman elegantly sent deliveries racing through the covers, point and fine-leg.
The advantage was stretched to 295 with 38 overs remaining at tea. Ackermann (38*) and Eckersley (20*) then took their fourth wicket stand to 51 before the declaration arrived.
Derbyshire scored 13 off the first over including a boundary for Ben Slater (28*), who also struck three fours when Chappell entered the attack. Godleman (6*) was the other unbeaten batsman in the second innings and he shook hands with Cosgrove at 5.05pm.
Bowling figures for Leicestershire (first innings): Klein 25-2-108-2, McKay 33-12-78-3, Sayer 38-5-142-0, Chappell 23.5-4-108-4, Ackermann 18-6-48-1, Cosgrove 1-0-5-0, Dearden 4-0-19-0.
Bowling figures for Leicestershire (second innings): Klein 3-0-14-0, McKay 3-1-3-0, Chappell 2-0-16-0, Sayer 2-0-5-0.
