County Round-Up: Derbyshire pull off one of the shocks of the season

Batsman of the day

After seven defeats –among them two by an innings, three by nine wickets and one by 279 runs – Derbyshire pulled off one of the shocks of the season by beating title-contenders Sussex by nine wickets at Hove yesterday. Captain Wayne Madsen hit the winning run to secure his side’s maiden First Division victory after leading them to the Second Division title last year.

The South African-born right-hander followed his first-innings 97 with an unbeaten 62 as Derbyshire chased down a target of 174 to win by nine wickets, avenging a defeat by the same margin to Sussex at Derby in May.

Bowler of the day

Luke Fletcher is a classic old-fashioned fast bowler, which is the politely euphemistic way 6ft 6in bowlers of his generous build tend to be described. But what he might lack in terms of honed physique, he more than makes up for in heart and he has become a fine cricketer, as he demonstrated for Nottinghamshire against Somerset at Taunton, where he made a 66-ball 58 in a Notts total of 378 and then conceded only two runs in his first eight overs yesterday, while taking the wickets of Nick Compton, Craig Kieswetter and Peter Trego.

Extras

Sam Robson, the Sydney-born Middlesex opening batsman on whom Australia have been keeping tabs, is now England-qualified, having completed the necessary period of residence. The 24-year-old right-hander contributed only seven runs to Middlesex’s win over Durham but needs only seven more to complete his 1,000 for the season in first-class games.

Robson has lived in England since 2008 and is already in possession of a UK passport, his mother having been born in Nottingham. He could still play for Australia but so far has declined offers even to play state cricket Down Under because it would mean he could play county cricket only as an overseas player.