Hampshire in command on record-breaking day at Derby

On a day that was curtailed after tea by gloomy light, Hampshire were firmly in control of their final Frizzell County Championship match of the season at Derby.

Going into the final day, Hampshire, who had a lead of 263 on first innings, had taken four Derbyshire wickets and there was some doubt whether captain Dominic Cork would appear for the home side having tendered his resignation.

James Hamblin and Dimitri Mascarenhas took their overnight partnership beyond three figures before the rather circumspect latter fell to the impressive Graeme Welch.

Despite being felled from a ball that would have had him palpably leg before to Welch only to see the umpire signal yet another Derbyshire no-ball, he and Hamblin took Hampshire well past 500 before Hamblin fell four short of a well deserved maiden first-class century. He was unfortunate to receive a delivery with barely lifted off the ground from off-spinner Nathan Dumelow.

Shaun Udal passed a half-century and in doing so gave Hampshire a new all-time record of six individual scores of fifty or more in an individual innings - something that had never been achieved in the 140 year history of Hampshire first-class cricket.

It also took Hampshire to their highest first-class team total against Derbyshire.

Australian Michael DiVenuto hit out in an attempt to put his side back in the game with a 50-ball 52 before James Tomlinson had him caught behind. His opening partner Andrew Gait was forced to retire hurt when the same bowler got a ball to lift and hit him under the heart.

Rawait Khan steadied the middle-order once Stubbings and Hasan Adnan had been dismissed with a solid half-century, but shortly before the players were taken from the field, James Bruce upended his off-stump with his score at 58.

Gait returned, received a Brucie bouncer and the light was offered.

Hampshire will be looking to press home their advantage, with Derbyshire still 103 behind with six, or maybe five, wickets in hand.