Struggling Derbyshire suffer a Hatchett job

Sussex 71 for 1 trail Derbyshire 191 (Hatchett 5-58) by 120 runs
Scorecard

Lewis Hatchett spearheaded an impressive Sussex bowling performance with a five wicket haul that gave his side the first day honours against Derbyshire at Derby.

Hatchett took 5 for 58 and was backed up by Steve Magoffin and Sussex debutant Stu Whittingham who each claimed two wickets as Derbyshire crumbled to 191 all out.

Shiv Thakor top-scored with an unbeaten 36 and then removed Chris Nash but Sussex closed in a strong position on 83 for 1, 108 behind.

The visitors might have questioned their decision at lunch to give their seamers first use of a green-tinged pitch when Derbyshire, aided by some good fortune, lost only one wicket in 29 overs.

There was certainly plenty there to encourage the bowlers and Chesney Hughes, who came into the game on the back of two centuries in the first three matches, was beaten numerous times before he was caught down the leg-side off Hatchett.

Hughes faced 52 balls for his eight which highlighted the difficulties facing the batsmen and Hamish Rutherford should have gone on 11 when he edged Hatchett but Ben Brown spilled the chance diving to his left.

With Billy Godleman surviving a blow on the helmet from Derby-born Whittingham to bat through the session, Derbyshire appeared to have done the hard work but the innings imploded after the interval.

Rutherford mistimed a pull to mid-on to give Whittingham his first championship wicket before Godleman was bowled by Magoffin in the next over.

Neil Broom's lean start to the season continued when he offered no shot to Whittingham and when Wayne Madsen played across the line at Hatchett, Derbyshire had slipped to 105 for 5.

At least Shiv Thakor, who also needed attention when a lifting ball from Magoffin struck him on the front of his helmet, looked in good touch but no one could stay with him long enough to sustain a recovery.

Sussex had seized the afternoon by claiming six wickets for 91 runs and they struck with the first ball after tea when Hatchett had Tony Palladino pouched at second slip.

A one-handed return catch accounted for Luke Fletcher and when Andy Carter missed with an attempt to clear the ground, Derbyshire had lost their last nine wickets for 113 runs.

Although Sussex had bowled well, it was not a distinguished batting performance and the day did not get any better for Derbyshire who allowed Ed Joyce and Chris Nash to prosper on a glorious May evening.

The openers took advantage of inconsistencies in line and length to put on 71 before Thakor broke through with the first ball of the 18th over when Nash was lbw for 37 but that was as good as it got for Derbyshire.