An astounding second day’s play saw 24 wickets fall and ended with Northamptonshire needing just 5 wickets to win.
Beginning the day only one down in their first innings, Derbyshire lost Madsen early when Hutton trapped him in front for 25. They then lost four in quick succession as Ben Sanderson tore through the middle order, leaving Derbyshire 60 for 6. They steadied before Coles had Critchley lbw and Keogh claimed the wicket of Palladino on the stroke of lunch.
The Derbyshire innings survived just 7 overs after the break, Sanderson claiming his fifth wicket with Keogh wrapping up the innings. Derbyshire all out for 146, handing Northamptonshire a first innings lead of 196.
Northamptonshire’s second innings proved a dramatic affair, both starting and finishing in the afternoon session. Moving conventionally through the first six overs, Newton and Vasconcelos went in successive balls. Newton trapped lbw for 9 with Vasconcelos run out looking for a second for 11. Procter shouldered arms for 7 with Keogh too gone lbw for just 3. Sharp movement off the deck found the inside edge from Rossington’s first delivery, through to the keeper to leave Northamptonshire were 39 for 5. This did little to change the intent however, Cobb and Bavuma batting with remarkable aggression.
The pair added 47 in just 7 overs before Cobb’s chip down the ground carried all the way to long off. Bavuma tried to carry on, but his drive found point in the next over with Coles gone in the over after that. Hutton and Zaib both exercised a little more control but the underlying intent remained. The pair took the total past 100 and the lead past 300 before they both fell, Northamptonshire all out for 122 setting Derbyshire what would be a record 319 runs to win.
The chase began in astounding fashion, Godleman picking up on the Northamptonshire aggression to fly out of the gates. The opener raced to 25 in just 11 balls before he was stumped by an excellent piece of keeping by Adam Rossington off the bowling of Sanderson. Madsen continued the onslaught, Derbyshire moving past 50 in 6 overs. Cole had the breakthrough when he flattened Madsen’s off stump, Derbyshire 85 for 2 in 15 overs. The assault continued with Lace and Reece, the total nearing 100 before Keogh slid one past Reece’s defence to trap him lbw for 33.
Play had seemed to have calmed a little as the end of play drew near. du Plooy wasn’t happy to amble to the close however, he put the foot down again but edged to Hutton at second slip who hung on to a fast, sharp chance. The nightwatchman Qadri lasted just one delivery as he shouldered arms, Luke Procter taking two in two to drop Derbyshire to 134 for 5. A couple of dicey moments followed but the home side found the close of play without further loss, still behind by 164 runs with Northamptonshire needing 5 wickets for victory.
Northamptonshire 342 (Bavuma 134, Rossington 38) & 122 (Bavuma 31, Cobb 24)
Derbyshire 146 (Sanderson 5/46, Hutton 2/22) & 155/5 (Procter 2/9, 1/29)