Madsen, Slater lead strong Derbyshire reply

Derbyshire 216 for 2 (Madsen 79*, Slater 70, Chanderpaul 50*) trail Gloucestershire 356 (Tavare 135, W Gidman 125, Taylor 5-58) by 140 runs
Scorecard

Skipper Wayne Madsen led from the front as Derbyshire hit back strongly on the second day against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Having bowled out their hosts for 356 from an overnight position of 304 for 6, the visitors replied with 216 for 2, Madsen ending the day unbeaten on 79, having faced 147 balls and hit nine fours.

Opener Ben Slater made 70, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dangerously poised on 50 not out, with his side trailing by only 140 at stumps.

Gloucestershire had earlier been indebted to Will Gidman for his second century in successive Championship games. Unbeaten on 88 overnight, the allrounder was last man out for 125, having faced 216 balls and hit 19 fours.

Tom Taylor finished with 5 for 58, his first five-wicket haul in Championship cricket. It will not be the last judging by some penetrating spells from the 19-year-old seamer, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent.

The home side's hopes of a fourth batting point hinged on scoring 46 runs from 14 overs at the start of the day. They were dealt an early blow when Adam Rouse was bowled by Tony Palladino shouldering arms without adding to his overnight score of 2.

Gidman suffered some anxious moments moving from 88 to three figures, none greater than the edge to third man off Palladino, which brought up his century off 178 balls, with 16 fours. It followed the 119 he scored against Hampshire at Southampton last week.

Taylor helped Palladino keep a tight rein on the scoring rate and was rewarded with the total on 319 when Tom Smith, on 2, edged to first slip where Madsen parried the ball for second slip Wes Durston to take the catch.

It was 329 for 9 when the impressive Taylor found the edge of namesake Jack Taylor's bat and this time Madsen took the catch himself. Liam Norwell then helped to add a useful 27 with Gidman, who was finally bowled by Mark Footitt to end the innings. Both teams collected three bonus points.

Derbyshire had to negotiate four overs before lunch, which saw them score eight runs. The total had progressed to 30 in the afternoon session when Gidman broke through with the ball, pinning Billy Godleman lbw for 11, having just switched to the College Lawn End.

Slater played positively to reach a half-century off 85 balls, with six fours, with Madsen settling in to add 81 for the second wicket. Their partnership was ended by Hamish Marshall's medium-pace as he had Slater caught behind by Rouse, standing up to the stumps, for 70.

It was 115 for 2 at tea and Gloucestershire should have claimed Chanderpaul's prized wicket soon after the break when Rouse failed to stump him on 14 as he advanced well down the pitch to left-arm spinner Smith.

Home supporters must have feared that the error would be costly. By stumps Chanderpaul and Madsen had put on 105 for the third wicket, with power to add on Wednesday morning.

Madsen reached a fluid half-century off 101 balls, with seven fours, and looked in prime form, despite a pitch that was offering occasional turn for Gloucestershire's two spinners. Chanderpaul played with increasing freedom and followed his partner to 50 off 103 deliveries, with five fours.

At the close Gidman said: "I've struck a bit of form with the bat and I'm feeling confident at the crease. It was difficult facing the second new ball, but other than that I went in at a good time on a decent pitch.

"We're disappointed with how we have bowled this afternoon because the new ball was doing a bit and there were signs of turn. Now two dangerous players are well set."

Derbyshire's Slater, who is still waiting for his first Derbyshire hundred, said: "I thought today might be my day, but it wasn't to be. The pitch is not as good as the scores suggest. It's okay when you get in, but it's tricky getting in."