The second day begins less well. The weather is cloudy and one begins to wonder if they knew this when they put us in the field.
Things get as dark as the skies when Evans gets caught on the crease to Abbott, and departs for 14. 106-2.
Brighter news is provided by Salt notching his 50 with a slightly squaffed shot, which should have gone for a boundary but doesn’t. His 51 has taken 123 balls.
Harry Finch is playing nicely. Until he isn’t and Palladino clean bowls him. 125-3.
Rampaul decides that this is the time to tie Salt down. He survives two half decent lbw shouts in consecutive balls to squeak on.
Ravi Bopara comes in.
Oh, Ravi.
Ravi
Ravi
Ravi. 141-4.
Brown builds on his catches by skipping nonchalantly to 15.
Unfortunately, he then skelps one to short leg and the catch is taken off Abbott. 172-5.
Wiese is next to come and go. He makes a quick fire 29 from 39 balls, and Derbyshire’s lead is down to 22. We’re 213-6 but they’re full into the tail now.
Salt has carried his bat throughout the entire innings and his century duly arrives. 100 off 215 balls, 11 fours and a six. He’s not bad this boy. 239-6.
The opener eventually falls to a tame caught and bowled to – guess who? – Palladino. 265-7 but, we now lead by 30.
Meaker is out for 21 off 66 balls to a great catch by Hosein off Abbott. 275-8 Thays a super knock from a genuine tailender.
Claydon goes for 8 to reduce us to 290-9 and then rain stops play.
At tea, we lead by 55 and Derbyshire have 4 bonus points to our 5.
Will Beer and Garton chip in with some handy runs, until Garton eventually goes for 18 by Abbott. He’s taken 5-103 and we’re all out for 306, a lead of 71.
Derbyshire Second Innings
The midlanders have a 23 tricky overs to navigate before close of play.
Derbyshire look fantastic in reply. Du Plooy goes for 37 off first change Garton, but they have already raced to 47-1.
Hughes lasts 10 balls, but is soon heading back to the hutch for 2 off Wiese. 54-2.
They end Day Two in the lead by 41 runs. 112-2.
