Day One close- Jimmy Anderson torments Derbyshire with superb five wicket haul

Jimmy Anderson gave another impressive demonstration of his craft with a five wicket haul as Division Two leaders Lancashire took control on a rain-shortened opening day of the match against Derbyshire.
Jimmy Anderson - on top form against Derbyshire on day one.Jimmy Anderson - on top form against Derbyshire on day one.
Jimmy Anderson - on top form against Derbyshire on day one.

The England fast bowler returned the remarkable figures of 5-18 in 17 overs, his most economical in county cricket, while Graham Onions claimed 3-19 in 14 to give Lancashire maximum batting points.

Leus du Plooy top-scored with an unbeaten 38 out of Derbyshire’s 153 and in reply, the visitors lost Keaton Jennings for a duck to close on 8-1.

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The start at Derby was delayed by overnight rain which seeped under the covers leaving the bowlers run-ups too wet for play to begin until 2.30pm, but Anderson and Onions were soon in business after an uncontested toss.

It was not only the clatter of wickets that embarrassed Derbyshire, who handed in the wrong team which had to be changed after the game had started with Sam Connors making his championship debut for the rested Tony Palladino.

By the time the 20-year-old walked out to bat five overs after tea, Derbyshire were in disarray as Anderson and Onions skillfully exploited helpful conditions.

Anderson bowled 10 overs unchanged from the City End although it was Onions who did the early damage, profiting from loose drives which accounted for Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen before Tom Lace played across the line.

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Anderson, who had not played a first-class game at Derby for 14 years, was finally rewarded when Luis Reece could only edge one that cut back into his stumps and he trapped Harvey Hosein in front to reduce the home side to 24-5.

Batting looked a good deal easier once Anderson and Onions gave way to Josh Bohannon and Saqib Mahmood which allowed Alex Hughes and Matt Critchley to counter-attack.

They added 62 but the return of Anderson after tea sparked another collapse with Critchley caught behind off the fifth ball after the interval.

Hughes was defeated by some late movement in Anderson’s next over and Logan van Beek was lbw three balls later to leave Derbyshire in danger of being dismissed for less than three figures.

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Leus du Plooy and Connors avoided that indignity and helped by a couple of dropped catches in the slips, the ninth wicket pair added 48 in 16 overs until Connors skied a pull at Bohannon to deep mid-wicket.

Ravi Rampaul clubbed Liam Livingstone for six before he spooned Mahmood to cover leaving Lancashire to negotiate five overs but Jennings faced only 10 balls before he was lbw to Reece.