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Hughes shines in defeat

Details: Published on Monday, 19 March 2012 20:20; Written by Tom Holdcroft

The all-round brilliance of Chesney Hughes couldn’t save Derbyshire from a 134-run pre-season friendly defeat against Leicestershire in Barbados today.

The Anguillan born left-hander followed a mean bowling display with a brutal half-century in the 40-over match at North Stars Cricket Club. But a required total of 307 proved to be beyond the Falcons after Josh Cobb’s century for the Foxes.

Karl Krikken’s men were up with the required rate early in their reply as Jonathan Clare (24 off 20 balls) matched Hughes for power in an opening stand of 54 in 7.2 overs.

But the experiment of Clare at the top of the order was cut short when he was caught behind off Robbie Joseph.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Wayne White induced both Wes Durston (1) and Wayne Madsen (13) to play on.

And when Hughes succumbed for 59 off 53 balls, caught at midwicket to become the first of Claude Henderson’s five wicket bag, the Falcons were 112-4 after 15.3 overs.

The collapse then gathered momentum as Park (7), Whiteley (15), Wainwright (0), Poynton (17), Knight (1) and Footitt (3) all came and went in quick succession and Derbyshire were all out in 30 overs for 170. Paul Borrington closed on 23 not out.

Josh Cobb Derbyshire had been on the receiving end of an imperious innings from Cobb (pictured right) as the Foxes’ opener smashed his way to 133, leading his side to an imposing total of 306-8.

Although Wes Durston had Cobb’s opening partner Greg Smith stumped for four in the opening over of the match, Derbyshire were about to be pummelled to all parts in a mammoth second wicket stand.

Cobb was the primary aggressor as he peppered the off-side, midwicket and straight boundaries to devastating effect and passed 100 in just 69 balls.

Jacque du Toit was only marginally more sedate, passing 50 in 42 balls and scoring 85 from 70 before finally falling lbw to the impressive Hughes.

Chesney Bowling Hughes’ (pictured right) figures of 2 for 38 from eight overs were a triumph in the circumstances. And he finally dislodged Cobb, for 133 off 108 balls with 12 fours and seven sixes – caught by Jonathan Clare at deep midwicket.

Cobb’s departure signalled flurry of late wickets as the Falcons caught well and bowled much more impressively in the latter exchanges with two wickets falling to Jonathan Clare, one each to Ross Whiteley and Mark Footitt and a second to Wes Durston who finished with 2 for 51 from his eight overs.

It was, however, Cobb and du Toit’s second wicket stand of 212 in 25 overs that they lived to regret.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Smith st Poynton b Durston 4

Cobb c Clare b Hughes 133

Du Toit lbw Hughes 85

White c sub (Turner) b Whiteley 23

Boyce lbw Durston 19

Eckersley c Wainwright b Clare 3

Dixey c Whiteley b Clare 5

Henderson not out 2

Naik c Durston b Footitt 3

Extras (1b, 4lb, 20w, 4nb) 29