Image Credit- getty
On a spin-heavy day at Wantage Road, Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal claimed five wickets as Northamptonshire’s batsmen tore through Derbyshire’s batting order before the hosts took the lead.
With only his third career five-wicket haul, Chahal, a veteran of 152 white-ball internationals, concluded with figures of five for 45 as Derbyshire lost their final six wickets for just 15 runs in 10.2 overs.
With fielders positioned all around the bat, Chahal bowled in partnership with off-spinner Rob Keogh on a pitch that offered plenty of turn and bounce. On day two, Keogh also claimed three wickets for 65 as Northamptonshire gained a comfortable lead of 54 in the first inning.
While Wayne Masden (47), Aneurin Donald (21), and Luis Reece (50) mounted a comeback with a 51-run partnership, Chahal dismissed both batsmen in an extended period that included a double wicket maiden.
Teenage Derbyshire fast bowler Harry Moore claimed two early wickets for only six runs in Northamptonshire’s second innings, but rising guns Gus Miller (42) and James Sales (40) put up a 76-run partnership. Play was halted due to heavy rain and poor light, but Northamptonshire was still up by 232 thanks to a well-paced, undefeated 46 from Rob Keogh.
Ben Sanderson had earlier brought Northamptonshire’s innings to an end with a catch of Brooke Guest’s (28) ball that spun away, while Reece had ended his innings with a ball that Keogh had edged. In his subsequent over, Keogh scored another run as David Lloyd was declared leg before wicket while attempting to sweep.
Masden resisted being bowled at, cutting and sweeping the spinners as he and Donald manoeuvred the ball into the gaps and kept the clock ticking. Masden came down the wicket to strike Keogh over midwicket.
When Chahal tossed one up, Donald swept it square for six, but the bowler saw his opportunity when Donald stroked a half-volley straight to Sales at square leg. With his next ball, Chahal nearly got another wicket, but Sales, now at short leg, lost a clear opportunity that Martin Andersson had presented.
One from Chahal pitched middle and hit the top of the off-stump, undoing Masden. Two balls later, Chappell, the hero of this July’s One Day Cup match, fell when he chipped to Luke Procter, who raced in to take a diving catch at mid-off. Then, Keogh took Andersson out thanks to a really good, precise catch at the leg slip made by Justin Broad.