Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Emirates Old Trafford (day one of four)

Derbyshire 244: Godleman 111; Gleeson 5-64

Lancashire 20-1: Jennings 12*; Rampaul 1-4

Lancashire (3 pts) trail Derbyshire (1 pt) by 224 runs

Richard Gleeson’s fourth five-wicket haul of the season put Lancashire on top during the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Derbyshire at Emirates Old Trafford.

Gleeson took 5-64 to help bowl the visitors out for 244 and claim maximum bowling points as the Red Rose continue their promotion charge.

There were three wickets too for Saqib Mahmood and one apiece for Tom Bailey and spinner Glenn Maxwell.

Of the 244 runs that Derbyshire scored, Billy Godleman scored 111 of them to record his 20th first-class century. He struck 16 fours and a six in the process.

The 30-year-old looked in great touch, cutting and driving the ball beautifully. He shared a 66-run opening partnership before Luis Reece edged Maxwell behind to Dane Vilas for 20.

Wayne Madsen joined Goddleman and added 41 before the second wicket went down. This sparked a collapse which saw Derbyshire lose four for 16 in 58 balls.

In this time, Gleeson bowled superbly and took four for 15 inside six overs either side of lunch.

A 58-run stand in the afternoon between Matt Critchley and Godleman steadied the ship as the visitors recovered to 181-5 before the former was trapped leg before wicket by Tom Bailey for 22.

30 more runs were added before Godleman was trapped in front by Mahmood. This sparked the second collapse of the innings as Derbyshire lost four for 33 in the next 27 balls to close the innings.

Lancashire came out to bat with around an hour left in the days play. Openers Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies just needed to survive, but Davies had other ideas. He top-edged a pull and was caught at short fine-leg off the bowling of West Indian, Ravi Rampaul.

Jennings and new man Josh Bohannon saw out the remainder of the day unscathed and Lancashire will resume in the morning on 20-1.

WHAT THEY SAID

Reflecting on his performance, Gleeson said: “It’s always nice to take wickets. The ball was reversing a little so when you’ve got the ball in hand it gives you that little edge.

“I’ve enjoyed bowling at Old Trafford – the ground has been good to me. Every time you bowl you want to take wickets and it’s nice to be contributing.

“It would have been nice to go in none down but we’ve got to bat long on this used wicket,” he added.

 

 

 

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