Derbyshire strikes keep Lancashire in check

Derbyshire's pace attack delivered a late twist to another enthralling day to give the home side a slender advantage in their Division Two match against Lancashire. Mark Footitt and Tom Taylor dismissed openers Paul Horton and Luis Reece along with nightwatchman Peter Siddle as the visitors closed on 36 for 3, a lead of only 55 with two days remaining.

A fourth-wicket stand of 148 between Billy Godleman and Wes Durston helped Derbyshire recover from an impressive opening spell from Siddle to reach 274, with England spinner Simon Kerrigan taking 3 for 21 from 18.5 overs

The late drama reflected the start of the day, with Lancashire's hopes of a third batting point vanishing when their last two wickets fell for one run - Taylor bowling Kerrigan and having Tom Bailey caught at third slip without scoring.

Siddle delivered a quality nine over spell from the Racecourse end to remove Martin Guptill and Wayne Madsen as the home side slipped to 26 for 3. Bailey trapped Ben Slater lbw half forward before Siddle discovered his line to have Guptill taken head high at second slip by Tom Smith and find Madsen's outside edge.

Siddle was unlucky not to claim more wickets as he repeatedly beat Durston and Godleman but they hung on and took advantage when the Australian was rested. They grew in authority as the second day mirrored the first, with the batsmen prospering in the post-lunch sunshine as the ball lost its hardness.

Durston pulled Kyle Jarvis for his sixth four to reach 50 off 61 balls and Godleman brought up the 100 stand when he drove Smith to the cover boundary. The opener steered Smith to third man for his eighth four to bring up his 50 and Lancashire had become desperate for a breakthrough when Durston tried to hit Kerrigan over the top and became the spinner's 200th Championship victim.

Shiv Thakor became the third Derbyshire batsman to fall without scoring when he edged Bailey to first slip and Godleman was caught behind cutting at Jarvis. The rest of the innings fell to spin but Alex Hughes, who hooked Jarvis for six, and Harvey Hosein both played well to deny Lancashire a bigger lead before Taylor and Footitt struck.

Horton was yorked, Reece edged behind and Siddle was taken low at first slip to leave Durston looking forward to the morning. "I would say it's very even but getting those three wickets means we can go into day three still par and I think the first session will be very important to setting up the rest of this game," he said.

"Early in the morning the ball does a little bit and hopefully we can use that to our advantage and nip out a couple more so the first two hours will be very important."

Kerrigan admitted he was unaware he had reached a personal milestone: "I hadn't a clue but it's a really pleasing thing for me to achieve and hopefully there are plenty more landmarks to come for me. Hopefully we can bat well tomorrow and look to try and get what we did in the first innings."