Cricket: Maddy stakes claim

Leicestershire 246 and 186 Derbyshire 177 and 43-1

THE delightful Queen's Park Ground is celebrating 100 years of staging Derbyshire's matches, but it is by no means certain that the county will appropriately mark the occasion by defeating Leicestershire. Far from it.

On the second day, 19 wickets tumbled on a difficult pitch where survival at the crease seldom materialised as the quick bowlers on both sides exploited the advantageous conditions. At the close, Derbyshire, who resume today, were 43 for 1 requiring another 213 runs for victory. It promises to be an awkward target.

Towards the end of play, Derbyshire's overseas player, the Australian Michael Slater, was trapped leg before by Jim Ormond for 13 with the Derbyshire total on 38. But Slater's partner, Adrian Rollins, playing freely, remained unbeaten on 20.

Leicestershire, for whom Vince Wells top scored with 64, were dismissed for 186 in their second innings giving them a priceless lead of 255. Darren Maddy, who is all set to make his England debut at Edgbaston on Thursday, looked solid until he was dismissed by the seamer Kevin Dean who went on to complete a career best of 5 for 57.

Leicestershire struggled against the former England bowler Phil DeFreitas who performed impressively to finish with 5 for 38 in 24 overs.

Inevitably on a surface where wickets were clattering, batting highlights were few and far between. Wells and Maddy put on 76 for the first wicket in Leicestershire's second innings, but subsequently they collapsed, although Aftab Habib contributed sensibly to make 33.

Earlier, Derbyshire were dismissed too cheaply and quickly in their first innings for 177. At 71 for 2 overnight, replaying to Leicestershire's 246, only Kim Barnett, with 30, showed some resistance yesterday as six wickets tumbled for just 106 in little more than 90 minutes. Opening bowler Jim Ormond, exploiting a helpful pitch, captured 5 for 50 to set up a lead of 69 and with it a glimpse of probable victory.