Matt Critchley takes centre stage as Derbyshire set up final day victory push

Matt Critchley’s sensational start to the campaign continued as the all-rounder completed his five-wicket haul and smashed 84 to help Derbyshire build a significant lead over Worcestershire on Day Three.

Critchley’s aggressive 109-ball innings, following on from his first-innings century, led Derbyshire to 268-5 at the close of play and a sizeable lead of 353 runs.

The Englishmen earlier claimed figures of 5-67, becoming just the 13th player to score a hundred and take five wickets in a match for his county, as Worcestershire were bowled out for 305 to trail the hosts by 85 runs after the first innings.

Worcestershire added a useful 62 runs to their overnight score of 243-7 and secured three batting points, largely thanks to Alzarri Joseph (46) who hit nine boundaries in an entertaining stay at the crease.

Ed Barnard (23) provided handy support before providing Wayne Madsen with a simple catch at slip off. Pears’ captain Joe Leach (7) was dismissed cheaply, Critchley this time with a stunning catch to hand Hudson-Prentice his second scalp of the innings. Joseph’s cameo edged the visitors past 300 but the West Indian soon became Critchley’s fifth victim, clean bowled attempting one lusty blow too many.

With a lead of 85 runs, the hosts set about building what they hope to be a match-winning total. Luis Reece (17) and Leus du Plooy (28) started well, putting on a half-century stand at either side of the lunch interval after Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman (5) was forced to retire early in his innings with a suspected groin injury.

The pair then fell in quick succession to Joseph and Barnard before play was stopped at the Incora County Ground to honour the memory of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his funeral.

When play resumed, Madsen and Critchley appeared keen to accelerate the scoring and firmly cement the hosts’ position of dominance.

The third-wicket partnership was worth 129 runs in little over 26 overs, with Critchley racing to half-century off just 43 balls, including two maximums, which was brought up in stunning fashion with a reverse sweep to the boundary. Madsen could not quite match his partner’s strike rate but only needed 64 deliveries to register his first half-century of the season.

As the lead neared 300, Madsen (66) was undone by an LBW from Daryl Mitchell. The wily medium pacer was perhaps surprisingly the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, conceding just 34 runs from 15 overs in the final session, helping to contain the flow of runs and ensure his side would not be batting that evening.

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Mitchell then claimed a rare second wicket, finding a way through the defence of Critchley and denying the Derbyshire man a second century of the match.

Critchley’s 84 was his fourth consecutive score above 50 and also the fourth straight innings he ended as Derbyshire’s top run-scorer. Anuj Dal’s (7) early struggles with the bat extended as he also had his bails removed late on, this time to the spin of Brett D’Oliveira, but by this stage, the lead had extended close to 350.

Harvey Hosein (33*) continuing his impressive start to the campaign with the bat, alongside Hudson-Prentice (10*), saw Derbyshire through to stumps on 268-5, 353 runs ahead of the Pears.

However, with a declaration expected overnight, the host’s attention will turn to their bowlers as they attempt to take the ten Worcestershire wickets required to secure a first victory of the season. Whilst a run chase appears highly unlikely at this stage, the visitors will be prioritising time in the middle in order to earn a hard-fought draw in what has the potential to be a fascinating final day in Derby.

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