O'Brien staves off Footitt threat
Derbyshire's seamer Tim Groenewald chose the rearranged match against Leicestershire, postponed after the death of Tim Poynton's father in a car accident, to announce that he would be leaving the county at the end of the season
Press Association
08-Jun-2014
Derbyshire 12 for 0 trail Leicestershire 311 (O/Brien 89, Raine 55, Cobb 50, Footitt 6-65) by 299 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Niall O'Brien top-scored with 89 as Leicestershire produced a spirited
fightback on day one of their Division Two match against
Derbyshire at Grace Road.
Leicestershire found themselves 11 for 3 in just the third over but two
century partnerships helped them to steady the ship and they eventually posted a
respectable 311 all out.
Mark Footitt recorded figures of 6 for 65 for the visitors before Derbyshire
reached 12 without loss in reply.
The home side got off to the worst possible start after winning the toss, with
Angus Robson departing to the first ball of the day, his third golden duck of
the campaign, as Marcus North took a catch off Footitt at gully.
Tony Palladino trapped Greg Smith lbw for four in the next over and when
Footitt claimed his second wicket of the day with Ramnaresh Sarwan (five)
finding Paul Borrington at short leg, Leicestershire were in trouble.
Josh Cobb and Ned Eckersley then put on 100 for the fourth wicket as the hosts
rebuilt either side of lunch.
Cobb brought up his 50 with a four off Footitt but was gone two balls later,
Scott Elstone taking the catch at point.
Eckersley (44) was soon trapped lbw by Palladino to leave Leicestershire 113
for 5 but Rob Taylor added 40 before Palladino had his third, Alex Hughes
claiming a catch at cover.
That brought Ben Raine to the crease and together he and O'Brien added 118 to
bring some respectability to the scorecard.
O'Brien brought up his 50 off 65 balls before tea and Raine joined him after
the interval, taking 112 balls to reach the mark.
Derbyshire took the new ball and the result was almost instantaneous with North
and Foottit combining again to remove O'Brien when the Irishman holed out to
third man.
There was not much wag in the Leicestershire tail and James Sykes went without
troubling the scorers before Raine (55) and Alex Wyatt (six) soon followed.
Tom Taylor recorded figures of 0 for 50 from his 13 overs after being
drafted in on debut to replace Tim Groenewald who announced earlier on Sunday he
would be leaving the county.
Stephen Moore (10 not out) and Borrington (two not out) then saw the visitors
through to the close unscathed.
This match had originally been scheduled to be the season opener for both clubs
but was postponed due to the tragic death of Keith Poynton, father of Derbyshire
wicketkeeper Tom, in a car accident on April 4.
