Rain forces draw at Derby

Rain was the inevitable victor in this PPP county championship match, when it halted play with 21 overs remaining. Before play started on the final day 115.3 overs in the first three days had been lost to rain.

Yorkshire resumed their innings on 216 for seven with the not out batsmen Lehmann and Middlebrook. The pair rarely looked in trouble as they put on 114 for the eighth wicket. This was the highest eighth wicket partnership by Yorkshire against Derbyshire. The previous highest was made in 1976 by Geoff Cope and Graham Stevenson. James Middlebrook brought up the 50 partnership with a cover drive which went for four of Kevin Dean. In the same over Lehmann square cut him for two fours which took him to 80. However Lehmann did have a life on 94 when he was dropped by Cassar at mid-on of Lacey's bowling.

The 100 partnership was brought up by a square cut four by Middlebrook. The stand was broken when Middlebrook was leg before sweeping Rob Bailey on his highest first class score of 45. Lehman then found solid support from Hoggard and and debutante Ramsden to take the score 349. Lehmann now begun to take more chances, his hundred came up in 209 balls and included 10 fours.

Hoggard was out when he top edged a slog to Krikken of Cassar. Lehmann and Ramsden took Yorkshire to lunch but the innings was only to last seven balls after lunch. Lehmann negotiated the first five ball of the first over but he was out to the first ball of the second. He was caught round the corner by Cork of the bowling of Cassar. Cassar's bowling figures of six for 76 are the best of his first class career.

Derbyshire took advantage of some wayward bowling from the deleted Yorkshire attack with four after four. They reached 209 for one after only forty overs. Stephen Stubbings made his highest championship score with 84. Michael Di Venuto scored 81 as the pair added 203 for the second wicket. Derbyshire's only victim was opener Mathew Dowman who scored 20 before he was caught by Ramsden of Middlebrook.