Gleeson five-for thwarts Godleman hundred to keep Lancashire on course

A century from Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman ensured his side posted something approaching a competitive score against promotion-chasing Lancashire on day one of this Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash.

Godleman's 20th first class ton was the runaway highlight of a scrappy innings from the visitors who were bowled out for a below par 244, thanks chiefly to Richard Gleeson's excellent figures of 5 for 64.

Despite Godleman's efforts, Lancashire, who can confirm promotion back to Division One this week if they get one more point than Glamorgan, will feel confident they can push on throughout day two having lost just the wicket of Alex Davies to reach 20 for 1 by the close of play.

Having elected to bat, openers Godleman and former Lancashire starlet Luis Reece, attacked from the start, with Godleman in particular determined to throw his bat at anything bowled off line by Tom Bailey and Saqib Mahmood.

The partnership had passed the half-century mark before Derbyshire experienced anything like a scare with Reece given a lifeline by Keaton Jennings, who was dropped badly at slip off Glenn Maxwell's third ball of the match.

Reece failed to take advantage however, and in Maxwell's next over, he edged through to keeper Dane Vilas, who claimed a juggling catch to dismiss the opener for 16 and break an opening stand of 66.

Godleman brought up his half-century just before lunch with a square drive through point off Gleeson, but the visitors suffered a blow when Wayne Madsen was trapped in front by Gleeson for 27 just before lunch.

Gleeson was soon proving to be Derbyshire's chief tormentor as he completed a stunning spell of 4 for 15 in six overs either side of the break to decimate the away side's middle order.

South African Leus du Plooy was the first to depart for just two, with Gleeson comprehensively rearranging his stumps, before Alex Hughes edged behind to Dane Vilas for a four ball duck.

When Gleeson then trapped Harvet Hosein in front for 0, Derbyshire were 123 for 5 and staring down the barrel with only Godleman's desire to counter attack keeping Lancashire from further success.

Matt Critchley joined Godleman and the pair put on 58 for the sixth wicket, until a fired up Bailey claimed his first victim when the Lancashire-born Critchley was adjudged lbw for 22.

Godleman, who took full advantage of a short boundary on the Stretford side of the ground following the recent Ashes Test match, bludgeoned 16 fours and one six to reach 111, but his long vigil finally ended in the ninth over after tea when he was trapped in front by the returning Mahmood, who quickly added the wicket of Anuj Dal who was bowled first ball with a vicious in-swinger.

Gleeson claimed his fourth fifth wicket haul of the season with the dismissal of Fynn Hudson-Prentice for 18, before some effective swishing from Ravi Rampaul and Hamidullah Qadri took the total to 244 when Rampaul spooned one to Matt Parkinson to give Mahmood figures of 3 for 45.

Lancashire negotiated a tricky 15 overs in the gathering gloom with Davies the man to depart for 4 when he top edged a pull of Rampaul which was caught well running back from slip by Marsden.