Nottinghamshire’s seamers shared the scalps as cricket returned to the Trent Bridge turf for the first time in 2023, removing Derbyshire’s top four in their allotted 60 overs in the field.
Luke Fletcher, Brett Hutton, Jake Ball and Steven Mullaney picked up a wicket apiece during the first innings of Notts’ two-day friendly against their near-neighbours, who amassed 203 runs before their innings came to a close at Tea.
In a rain-affected evening session, Notts swiftly progressed past 50, closing on 52/1 from 11 overs.
The day began with the comfortingly-familiar scene of sunshine-filled skies, green, green grass and Luke Fletcher donning his pristine whites to take the new ball.
The homegrown stalwart shared his duties with the fresh cherry alongside Olly Stone, the new signing keeping Derbyshire’s openers on a tight leash, save for the occasional heave from Billy Godleman towards a short boundary in front of the PKF Smith Cooper Stand.
It was first-change Brett Hutton who would break the partnership, ending Godleman’s enterprising innings on 48 with a delivery which cramped the left-armer for room, Tom Moores the grateful recipient behind the stumps.
The morning session also saw a welcome return to bowling duties for Lyndon James, before Steven Mullaney breached Luis Reece’s defences on the stroke of Lunch.
After the interval, Jake Ball’s pace and accuracy proved too much for a comprehensively-castled Leus du Plooy (7), before an obdurate, 83-ball vigil from Brooke Guest concluded when he skied Fletcher’s short ball to the waiting Moores.
A middle-order engine room of Matt Lamb and Harry Came then provided stout resistance, compiling an unbroken 75-run stand to take the visitors past 200 before their innings concluded at Tea.
Notts’ reply was led by a brisk Ben Slater cameo, the left-hander driving and clipping impeccably to rack up 28 runs before falling to Zak Chappell.
Haseeb Hameed played a slightly more watchful hand, but was quick to pounce on any width offered by the Derbyshire attack as he reached 19 from 26 balls.
The Vice-Captain had been joined by Matthew Montgomery (0*) shortly before the rain brought about a premature end to proceedings.
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