Kyle Jarvis took five wickets for just 13 runs as Lancashire recorded a huge victory to squash Derbyshire’s attempts to maintain some dignity in a huge chase. Jarvis’s heroics were just the icing on the Lancashire cake, however, after yesterday’s efforts with the bat had set the hosts 365 to win.
Although Derbyshire came into day four on the back foot, needing 338 with eight wickets in hand, with Martin Guptill, Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston still in the mix they were unlikely to give up easily. Nightwatchman Tom Taylor went early, but once Madsen and Guptill were in the middle together it became clear that they had no intention of playing for a draw. Some fine strokes were seen and a strong partnership started to form.
The pair reached 41 runs together before it all came to a screeching halt, as Guptill was caught behind off the bowling of Jarvis for 32 to leave his side 77/4 with 288 still needed.
Durston started conservatively and survived a couple of failed appeals, including a very lucky lbw escape for Madsen. By the time Durston chipped one to Kerrigan for three and brought the side to 83/5, it looked shaky at best for the hosts.
Once Madsen was removed lbw, and the side was down to 88/6, it was surely all over. Derbyshire had lost three batters for just 11 runs in 49 balls.
Nine wickets fell before the scheduled lunch break, triggering a 30 minute delay. It was not needed; on just his second ball of the day, Simon Kerrigan took the final wicket – that of Mark Footitt for no run to give Lancashire victory by a huge 250 runs.
Jarvis was the man of the day with his five wickets, three of them lbws, but in truth Lancashire had dominated most of the match. There were some bright moments for the hosts, such as early wickets on day one, some quality batting in the first innings and Taylor’s six wickets for 61. Always slightly ahead for the first three days, before stretching into the distance on day four, there is little doubt that Lancashire’s win was well deserved.
