Record stand puts Derbyshire on top

Derbyshire pair Chris Rogers and Wayne Madsen notched a new club record opening partnership against Northamptonshire as the visitors took complete control on day two at Wantage Road.

Skipper Rogers returned to haunt his former employers by notching an impressive 141 while South African right-hander Madsen ended the day unbeaten on 163. Rogers spent two seasons in Northamptonshire colours in 2006-07 but old friendships were put out of the window as he and Madsen passed the previous Derbyshire best against Northants, 216, set by Alan Hill and John Wright back in 1979.

Nicky Boje and James Middlebrook threatened a Northants revival with a wicket apiece in quick succession just before the tea interval but Madsen and Paul Borrington (41 not out) easily saw Derbyshire through to a commanding position at the close.

Derbyshire began the day 163 runs behind Northants on 57-0 with Australian one-Test-wonder Rogers resuming on 31 and Madsen on 17. The opening pair were untroubled in reaching their first hundred partnership of the season in the 30th over and Rogers was the first to pass 50 with a four through mid-wicket from his 84th ball.

Madsen brought up his patient half-century in near-identical fashion four overs later in 123 balls. With the hosts' attack toiling, the only half chance came when wicketkeeper Paul Harrison could not quite hold on to a sharp catch from Rogers off Middlebrook and the partnership had grown to 163 by lunch.

Rogers then coasted to his century from 170 balls and he brought up the 200 partnership with the following ball. Middlebrook then thought he had snared Madsen with a sharp catch at short leg from Vishal Tripathi but his appeals fell on death ears.

And Madsen compounded Middlebrook's misery when he had the honour of setting the new record with a four through extra cover before hitting a single in the 63rd over to put Derbyshire ahead.

The former KwaZulu-Natal man went on to make his ton in 213 balls, including one six smashed straight down the ground off Boje. Middlebrook was the man to finally break up the partnership in the 74th over, trapping Rogers lbw to bring his superb innings to an end.

Northants claimed a second wicket in the next over when Garry Park, who faced seven balls without scoring, edged Boje to Andrew Hall at slip. But any thoughts of a home side fightback were quickly extinguished by Paul Borrington and Madsen whose partnership of 103 ensured Derbyshire ended the day with an innings victory in their sights, 157 runs ahead going into day three.