NORTHAMPTON

(Day three of four; Derbyshire won toss)

Derbyshire 485 for seven dec. Northamptonshire 249 for five (N O’Brien 80, L Klusener 55*, A Hall 36*; J Clare three for 32)

Lunch

This is turning into quite a match for Jonathan Clare. Derbyshire’s strapping 22-year-old all-rounder from Burnley, playing only his tenth first-class match, followed his maiden century by taking the first three Northamptonshire wickets to fall. With the second ball of the morning, he had Stephen Peters leg-before as the batsman badly misjudged the length. Rob White followed shortly afterwards, pushing at an outswinger, then David Sales was rapped on the pads as he played from the crease.

Charl Langeveldt intruded on Clare’s party when his inswinger beat Nicky Boje’s airy drive and Northamptonshire, at 120 for four, were facing an uphill struggle to haul themselves back into the game. Niall O’Brien has been the only player to offer concerted resistance, reaching his half-century from 76 balls, but he needs greater support after lunch.

Tea

The home side have clawed their way back into the game with an unbroken stand of 78 for the sixth wicket between Lance Klusener and Andrew Hall. But it could have been nipped in the bud if Dan Birch had accepted an easy chance offered by Hall, chipping to mid-on, when he had made only 16.

Derbyshire took only one wicket in the afternoon session, as Niall O’Brien was caught hooking to deep square-leg for 80. Bad light and rain led to an early tea, with every intervention reducing Derbyshire’s chances of pushing for victory.

Close

Returning with the second new ball, Jon Clare finally ended a sixth-wicket partnership of 119 between Lance Klusener and Andrew Hall. In the space of three balls, he accounted for both South African all-rounders, having Hall caught at mid-off from a leading edge, then knocking out Klusener’s off stump two balls later. Clare, who made an unbeaten 129 with the bat, has so far taken five for 52 with the ball. Rain and bad light brought an early end to proceedings.