Cricket

Derbyshire's Brooke Guest played a valiant innings of 76 not out to keep his team in contention against Northamptonshire in their Vitality County Championship Division Two match at Derby.Northamptonshire had posted a formidable 422 all out on the back of centuries from Rob Keogh (102) and Justin Broad (75). Derbyshire's bowlers struggled to make early inroads, with Keogh and Broad accumulating runs steadily.However, Derbyshire skipper David Lloyd's off-spin proved to be the catalyst for a mini-collapse, as he dismissed Keogh and Broad in quick succession. Zak Chappell then removed Michael Finan to leave Northamptonshire on 344 for 5.Despite the setbacks, Northamptonshire's tail wagged, with Ben Sanderson and Siddharth Kaul adding valuable runs. Blair Tickner and Daryn Pavillon eventually wrapped up the innings, but Derbyshire still faced a daunting target of 423.Derbyshire's openers, Luis Reece and Guest, showed resilience and determination to bat through until tea. However, Reece's dismissal for 42 gave Northamptonshire a glimmer of hope.Guest, though, remained unyielding, reaching his third fifty of the season. He found a reliable partner in Wayne Madsen, and together they batted through 24 overs to stumps, leaving Derbyshire on 170 for 2, still 252 runs behind.Guest's unbeaten knock has given Derbyshire a fighting chance in the match, but they will need to continue their resistance on the third day if they are to avoid defeat.

Leicestershire and Northamptonshire played out a thrilling draw in their Vitality County Championship Division Two encounter, with both teams showcasing impressive batting performances.Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb and England allrounder Rehan Ahmed starred for Leicestershire, guiding their team to a first-innings total of 452 for 8 declared. Handscomb narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 99, while Ahmed contributed a valuable 85. Louis Kimber (65) and Tom Scriven (54*) also made significant contributions.Northamptonshire had earlier declared their first innings on 453 for 7, with Rob Keogh (126*) and Emilio Gay (88) leading the way. George Scrimshaw and Ben Sanderson were the pick of the Leicestershire bowlers, taking two wickets each.The match was characterized by a high-scoring contest, with both teams taking advantage of the favorable batting conditions. Handscomb and Ahmed put on a 167-run partnership, while Scriven and Scott Currie added 92 for the ninth wicket to secure maximum batting points for Leicestershire.Despite the entertaining batting displays, the match was also marred by a controversial incident involving Northamptonshire captain Luke Procter. Procter was penalized five runs for striking Ahmed with the ball while attempting a run-out. The umpires deemed the action to be "inappropriate or dangerous."In the end, both teams settled for a draw, each claiming 15 points. Leicestershire and Northamptonshire remain winless in Division Two, with all four of their matches so far ending in draws.

Northamptonshire's batting prowess was on full display as they amassed a mammoth 605 for 6 declared against Glamorgan in their Vitality County Championship Division Two encounter. Karun Nair's unbeaten double century (202*) was the cornerstone of their innings, while Ricardo Vasconcelos (182) and Saif Zaib (100*) also made significant contributions.Nair, a former India Test player, showcased his class with a masterful 253-ball knock, anchoring Northamptonshire's innings. He shared a crucial 212-run partnership with Zaib, who registered his maiden century of the season. Vasconcelos, who resumed on 166, missed out on a double hundred but played a pivotal role in setting the platform for their imposing total.Glamorgan's bowlers struggled to contain Northamptonshire's batting onslaught. Mir Hamza dismissed Vasconcelos, while Brad Wheal accounted for George Bartlett. James Harris trapped James Sales leg before, but Zaib's arrival injected fresh impetus into the innings.Zaib played with aggression, hitting boundaries off Harris and Mason Crane. He was dropped on 71 and again on 99, but eventually fell for 100 in Crane's next over. Nair continued to punish the Glamorgan attack, reaching his double century and prompting Northamptonshire captain Luke Procter to declare.In response, Glamorgan reached 104 for 3 at stumps, still trailing by 230 runs. Billy Root and Ul Hassan provided a solid start, but Northamptonshire's bowlers made inroads. Raphy Weatherall dismissed Ul Hassan, while Zaib and Ben Sanderson accounted for Root and Sam Northeast respectively.With persistent showers forecast for Monday, Glamorgan's hopes of salvaging a result may rest on the weather. However, Northamptonshire will be confident of pushing for victory, given their substantial first-innings advantage.

Leicestershire's batters showcased their prowess on day one of their Division Two match against Sussex, amassing a formidable 326 for eight at the close of play. Despite losing the toss and being put into bat on a green-tinged pitch, the Foxes displayed resilience and determination.Rishi Patel, the 2023 county player-of-the-year, led the charge with a fluent 87, peppering the boundary with 12 fours and two sixes. Australia's Peter Handscomb contributed a steady 51, while all-rounder Liam Trevaskis remained unbeaten on 82 in his county debut.Sussex's bowlers struggled to make consistent inroads, despite having the home side reeling at 63 for three midway through the morning session. Fynn Hudson-Prentice emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets for 50 runs.Patel, who narrowly missed out on an England Lions call-up earlier this year, showcased his elegant shot-making and aggressive mindset. He reached his half-century in just 59 deliveries, but his innings was cut short when he gloved a catch to John Simpson off Danny Lamb's bowling.Trevaskis, making his debut for Leicestershire, provided solid support for Handscomb and helped rebuild the innings after the Australian's dismissal. He played with composure and determination, adding 65 for the fifth wicket with Handscomb and 49 with Ben Cox.Sussex's bowlers toiled hard but were unable to break through the Leicestershire resistance consistently. Hudson-Prentice picked up a third wicket late in the day, while Tom Clark, the opening bat, claimed a wicket with his part-time medium pace.With no Rehan Ahmed or Chris Wright in the Leicestershire lineup, the Foxes will hope that Trevaskis can also contribute with the ball. The left-arm spinner has a point to prove after limited opportunities with Durham and will be eager to make an impact in his new surroundings.