David Wainwright impressed with bat and ball as Derbyshire moved into a good position on day three of their Division Two clash with Leicestershire at Grace Road. Wainwright, who earlier completed his maiden century for the visitors, claimed 5 for 54 to leave the hosts struggling on 200 for 9 after losing their first three wickets for just 34 runs.
That gave them a lead of just 175 and Derbyshire will be looking to take the final wicket and secure a first win of the season on Wednesday.
Greg Smith was the first to return to the pavilion as he was bowled by Wainwright to leave Leicestershire 33 for 1 and just two overs later his replacement Ned Eckersley was out for a duck as he became Yorkshireman Wainwright’s second victim before the lunch break.
Opener Angus Robson was gone for the addition of just one more run as he was stumped by wicketkeeper Gareth Cross off Wainwright. The wickets continued to tumble for the hosts and Josh Cobb was caught by Scott Elstone at short extra cover off Wainwright before Ramnaresh Sarwan improved on his first innings total of 5 but was caught at slip by Wayne Madsen off Mark Footitt to leave the Foxes 74 for 5.
Niall O’Brien started to mount a comeback for the home side and Rob Taylor was dropped by Madsen with 98 on the board to give them a small boost before he too was sent packing, Madsen redeeming himself as Wainwright brought up his five-wicket haul.
Ben Raine then put on a useful 58 with O’Brien before he departed for 19 with Paul Borrington taking a catch off Elstone. O’Brien was spilled on 68 at third man but soon fell for 71 as Elstone claimed a second wicket and, when James Sykes went lbw to Footitt, the hosts would have been looking to wrap things up before the close. But Anthony Ireland and Alex Wyatt, who was playing with a runner, stood firm and will resume on Wednesday.
Earlier, Wainwright scored his maiden ton for Derbyshire as he built on the 83 runs he scored on day two. The 29-year-old surpassed the career-best of 104 he made for former county Yorkshire in 2008 before losing his wicket for 109 as he was caught at gully by Robson off Rob Taylor.
That brought Footitt to the crease before Tom Taylor (40) was the last man out three overs later. The 19-year-old was caught at mid-on by Josh Cobb off Sykes’ bowling after adding a respectable 20 to his overnight score to leave Derbyshire 336 all out and with a lead of 25 runs.
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