Di Venuto defies Logan for Derby against Notts

Derbyshire captain Michael Di Venuto registered his highest score in England on the opening day of the CricInfo Championship Second Division match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Di Venuto scored 165 from 294 balls with 20 fours as Derbyshire, after electing to bat, were dismissed for 320.

The Tasmanian was last out, the victim of a controversial leg-before decision to seamer Richard Logan, who finished with career-best figures of 6-93.

Di Venuto shouldered arms to a ball which appeared to strike him above the knee roll, but was almost solely responsible for posting a challenging first-innings total on a pitch which offered the bowlers some assistance, though hardly an exaggerated amount.

With Chris Bassano, who made 56 from 107 balls with nine fours, Di Venuto added 124 for the third-wicket, a stand full of enterprising strokeplay and effective placement.

Derbyshire, at one stage 209-2, threw away a commanding position, however, which was only partly attributable to the spirited nature of Nottinghamshire's fightback.

Logan, whose previous best championship return was 5-61, for Northamptonshire against Middlesex last year, bowled with plenty of spirit and determination - as did Stephen Randall, who claimed 2-64 in 26 overs of challenging off-spin.

Randall, having dropped a sitter at point early on, when Steve Stubbings offered a regulation chance off the bowling of Greg Smith, atoned by dismissing Bassano, the wicket which effectively triggered Derbyshire's decline.

The match is finely balanced, although Nottinghamshire, having bowled indifferently during the morning session, will be grateful that Derbyshire did not take full advantage of the platform they had created for themselves.