Nottinghamshire’s quest for the wickets that would take them to victory was thwarted by rain and a resolute Derbyshire on the final day of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash at the Incora County Ground, with the Division Two leaders forced to settle for a draw.
A fixture which began in record-breaking temperatures witnessed persistent downpours on the morning of day four. An early lunch, with the loss of 21 overs, was taken, before the hosts resumed their innings on 79/0 at the outset of the afternoon session.
Derbyshire openers Luis Reece and Harry Came remained steadfast as Messrs Fletcher, Pattinson and Paterson hunted the first breakthrough of the innings, their appeals becoming laced with anguish as the duo posted a century stand.
Captain Steven Mullaney was innovative in the field, with unorthodox placements and close catchers aplenty, but it was his creativity in turning to Ben Slater which reaped rewards.
Off-spinner Slater bowled five consecutive maidens across two spells with the ball – and so perhaps earned the rewards which came his way when Came chopped on for 70.
Slater’s subsequent celebratory sprint through the cover regions, and into the arms of his skipper, was a repeat of a somewhat familiar sight this summer, with the opener taking his second County Championship scalp of the season.
From the other end, Liam Patterson-White’s twirlers were causing some discomfort, and Reece’s departure for 86 via a thick edge would trigger the Tea interval.
The Academy graduate all-rounder began the evening session promisingly too, new batter Wayne Madsen surviving close calls from his first two balls.
But it was Dane Paterson who would break through next, using the second new ball to comprehensively pin Brooke Guest for 14.
Paterson, on the scene of a breakthrough appearance for Notts in last year’s success over Derbyshire, was in fine form once more. A simply unplayable delivery to du Plooy nestled in the gloves of Tom Moores via the batter’s edge to leave the Falcons four down.
Nottinghamshire remained proactive and energetic in the field, but Madsen and new man Hilton Cartwright saw out the next ten overs without undue alarm, triggering the handshake between the two sides.
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