Guptill has a blast after Glamorgan errors

New Zealand's Test opener, Martin Guptill, took full advantage of Glamorgan's generosity to score his second century of the season and put Derbyshire in a strong position on the second day of the Division Two match at Derby. Guptill was dropped three times on his way to 132 and added 170 with Derbyshire's skipper Wayne Madsen, who was unbeaten on 122 as the home side closed at 335 for 5, a lead of 99.

Although Marcus North took 3 for 40 with his off-spin on debut for Glamorgan, his sixth county, an injury-depleted attack struggled on a good pitch and Guptill punished them by completing a hundred between lunch and tea.

Mike Reed claimed his first Championship victims but the bowlers failed to build up any sustained pressure and allowed the home side to take control after light rain delayed the start by 75 minutes. With their leading strike bowlers Graham Wagg and James Harris both missing, Glamorgan needed to take every opportunity that came their way but Guptill was given two lives before Derbyshire had reached three figures.

Skipper Mark Wallace failed to cling on to a difficult chance down the leg side off the former England pace bowler, Simon Jones, when Guptill was 17 and the score 35, but Nick James' drop at mid-off when he was 65 was a bad one.

By then, Reed had celebrated his first Championship wicket by having Paul Borrington caught behind for 15 shortly before lunch but the afternoon session belonged to Guptill and Madsen who plundered 156 runs in 40 overs. Guptill took three fours from a Reed over on his way to an 88-ball 50 and he moved into overdrive to reach his century, which contained 19 fours, from 143 balls.

Jones fluffed a simple chance at backward point when he was on 114 but three overs after tea he was lbw trying to whip Reed through midwicket.

By then, Derbyshire were closing in on Glamorgan's 236 and Wes Durston contributed half of a 60 stand in 12 overs before he skied a sweep to deep square leg.

North took a return catch off a leading edge to remove Dan Redfern for a duck but Madsen patiently moved to his second hundred of the season from 192 balls to leave his side with a good chance of completing a Championship double over Glamorgan and a third victory of the campaign.