Tahir allows Derbyshire to finish on a high

• ECB Reporters Network28-Sep-2017

Derbyshire 460 (Hughes 142, Madsen 121) and 144 for 0 dec (Slater 74*, Reece 61*) beat Gloucestershire 224 for 2 dec (Bracey 82*, Hankins 79*) and 223 (Tahir 5-76) by 157 runs

Derbyshire finished their Specsavers County Championship season on a high, beating Gloucestershire by 147 runs at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.

Imran Tahir picked up five wickets and Matt Critchley and Harry Podmore two apiece as the visitors completed victory with more than 21.3 overs to spare.

It was a disappointing end to the summer for Gloucestershire who, to their credit, had agreed to making a game of it by declaring on their overnight score of 224 for 2.

Gloucestershire then gifted Derbyshire 144 runs, in their second innings, to set up a second innings chase in a minimum of 80 overs.

In pursuit of 381 to win, they suffered an early blow when Benny Howell was caught behind by off the bowling of Harry Podmore in the fourth over. Thereafter, they struggled against a Derbyshire attack led, before lunch, by seamers Podmore and Hardus Viljoen. Podmore picked up his second wicket at 42 for 2 when he had Chris Dent caught behind, for 19.

The game gathered pace after lunch as Gloucestershire fought to establish a position of strength and Derbyshire, with equal purpose, did their bit to keep themselves in with a chance of bowling out their hosts.

Imran Tahir was the catalyst for Derbyshire – the leg spinner taking three wickets in the penultimate session to put Derbyshire back on top.

James Bracey, who played well for 44, was the first to fall. The talented left hander, who scored an unbeaten 82 in the first innings, chanced his arm once too often and was caught at deep midwicket off the bowling of Tahir.

Tahir then snared caught and bowled Hankins at 135 for 4, before trapping Jack Taylor lbw for 3, at 147 for 5.

Gloucestershire had agreed to go for the target, regardless of what position they found themselves in. So, it was no surprise when Kieran Noema-Barnett opened his shoulders and struck six boundaries in quick fire time.

Sadly, for Gloucestershire, he perished for 30 and it was left to Phil Mustard to shoulder his side’s hopes. At tea, Gloucestershire were 197 for 6, needing another 184 for victory.

Their faint hopes disappeared shortly after tea when captain Mustard was bowled by Matt Critchley for 37. It was a long walk back to the pavilion for Mustard, who understandably fancied his chance of at least taking the game to the wire.

David Payne was next to fall, caught at slip by Wayne Madsen off the bowling of Critchley for 0, and Josh Shaw followed for 1, bowled shouldering arms to a ball that spun back from Tahir.

Derbyshire wound up matters when Tahir picked up his fifth wicket when trapping Matt Taylor lbw at 233 all out.