Madsen and Poynton form mammoth stand

Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen smashed a stunning double century as the Division Two leaders came roaring back on day three of their Championship match against Northamptonshire.

Madsen piled on 223 not out off 384 balls, including 31 fours, as Derbyshire soared to 512 for 8 at the close while he also formed part of an incredible partnership with wicketkeeper Tom Poynton. Their unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 259 is currently the third-highest in the history of first-class cricket and it produced the first century of 22-year-old Poynton's career as he finished unbeaten on 105 from 209 deliveries.

Derbyshire began the day on 163 for 5, 237 runs behind their opponents, with Madsen resuming on 37 and Ross Whiteley yet to open his account. The visitors needed 88 to avoid the follow-on at the time but Whiteley fell in the first over of the day when he edged David Willey to Northamptonshire wicketkeeper David Murphy for a 14-ball duck.

Madsen completed a patient half-century off 114 balls but the visitors lost David Wainwright when he was trapped lbw by James Middlebrook.

Rob Newton then dropped a straightforward catch at deep midwicket off Jack Brooks to give Jon Clare a reprieve on 22, but he was snared on 28 by Murphy in the next over to give Lee Daggett his second wicket as the visitors reached lunch on 282 for 8.

Madsen completed the 13th century of his first-class career and his second at Northamptonshire in three years in the fourth over of the afternoon off 187 deliveries. He and Poynton then set about obliterating Tony Palladino and Tim Groenewald's county record ninth-wicket partnership of 78 that was set in this same fixture last season.

They eventually went way past the first-class record for any county against Northamptonshire - 136 made by Kent's Richard Ellison and Alan Knott at Wantage Road in 1985.

Madsen went past 150 off 270 balls before Poynton completed his half-century off 93 deliveries as he topped his previous best score of 50 not out, made against Essex at Chelmsford in May.

Madsen serenely went past the 179 he made on this ground two years ago after tea before he completed his double ton off 356 balls with a four through midwicket off Alex Wakely. Poynton then completed his century off 194 deliveries towards the close on a day Derbyshire's promotion hopes received a massive boost.