Dal’s career-best in big score but hard work ahead
ANUJ Dal struck a career-best 146 not out as Derbyshire batted themselves into what should be an unassailable position against Sussex.
The all-rounder resumed on 45 not out and, after a careful morning, scored more freely after lunch as he and Mark Watt shared a Derbyshire record ninth-wicket stand against Sussex, adding 108 in 20 overs before the declaration at 551-8.
That left Sussex needing to pass 400 to avoid the follow-on after day two of the LV Insurance County Championship match.
But the comfort with which Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan batted for Sussex as they reached 142-3 at the end of the day was a reminder that a good deal of hard work lies ahead if Derbyshire are to prise out 17 more wickets for victory.
Rizwan, without a century yet for Sussex, is 54 not out overnight.
Derbyshire had resumed on 339-5 with Wayne Madsen on 171, having already put on 136 with Dal.
They soon added the three runs needed to make it a sixth wicket record for the county against Sussex and Madsen may well have been eyeing a career-best score.
Sussex opened their attack with Sean Hunt and Jack Brooks and, for the first hour at least, bowled with purpose and aggression.
Dal edged Hunt between wicketkeeper Oli Carter and first slip Tom Alsop to reach his 50.
But Madsen had added only five runs when he was dismissed by a fine delivery from Brooks.
He was surprised by extra pace and bounce and edged to first slip, where Alsop took a good catch high to his left.
Madsen had faced 263 deliveries and hit 19 fours and a six.
Sussex may have hoped to get through Derbyshire quickly then and it was 390-7 when Hayden Kerr, making his championship debut, was lbw to Delray Rawlins as he attempted to pull.
But Alex Thomson reached lunch with Dal, who was unbeaten on 89 and the score was on 430-7.
Sussex took the eighth wicket when Rawlins drifted the ball into Thomson’s pads to have him lbw for a fluent 27.
But, overall, the Sussex bowlers toiled on a flat pitch and a warm day and their worst period was after lunch.
Dal and Watt’s 108 partnership passed the ninth-wicket record against Sussex set by Maynard Ashcroft and Joe Humphries at Hove in 1904, a match in which the legendary CB Fry scored a double century.
At times Dal, who scored his second century of the season from 236 deliveries, and Watt appeared to score at will and at one period Sussex captain Tom Haines handed over control of his side to Steve Finn.
Haines had left the field for a spell but when he returned he fielded at long-off while Finn talked to the bowlers and set the fields.
A Sussex spokesman explained: “It was easier for Finn to manage the field while Tom was on and off and preparing to bat.”
If Derbyshire’s intention was to wear Sussex down and catch them while still weary from a day and a half’s fielding, it certainly seemed to have been a successful ploy at the start of the home side’s reply.
Ali Orr was bowled for five by Sam Conners, the ball just dislodging a bail with the wicket appearing initially to be more like a caughtbehind as Brooke Guest threw the ball skywards in triumph. Haines had been driving well, with four fours in 17 runs from 11 balls but that was also his downfall as he flashed at one outside off stump from Conners and drove it firmly into the sure hands of Dal in the gully.
However, Alsop and Rizwan began to look increasingly comfortable as they added 95.
Alsop will no doubt be kicking himself about his dismissal, shortly before the close, when he biffed a Luis Reece full toss straight to Leus du Plooy at midwicket, where he took a juggling catch.
The pitch still looks a good one to bat on but Dal said he senses there may be something in it for the bowlers as the game goes on. “There’s a bit of variable bounce and that could make the game interesting on days three and four, especially if it turns,” he said.
“It was great for me batting with Wayne Madsen.
“He’s in the form of his life. It’s a really good wicket but Sussex bowled well in the morning.
“And Watty played a really crucial and vital knock for us at the end.”