Batting collapse condemns Derbyshire to sorry defeat

Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach inspired his team to their third Specsavers County Championship victory of the new campaign as Derbyshire crumbled to a humiliating innings and 42-run defeat in the Division Two match at Derby on Monday.
Captain Billy Godleman, who described Derbyshire's defeat as "hugely disappointing".Captain Billy Godleman, who described Derbyshire's defeat as "hugely disappointing".
Captain Billy Godleman, who described Derbyshire's defeat as "hugely disappointing".

Leach took 5-32 in 13 overs to rip the heart out of Derbyshire, who were shot out for 98 in 29.4 overs with only three batsmen getting to double figures.

Worcestershire had set up their victory charge by adding 92 from 17 overs to their overnight total, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore hitting 42 from 47 balls, before Leach declared on 415-9, a lead of 140, which proved more than enough.

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Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman said: “To lose a game in the manner in which we did, after time had been taken out of the game on the first couple of days, was hugely disappointing. It certainly wasn’t a 98 all-out wicket.”

Kohler-Cadmore struck two sixes to make sure his team secured maximum batting points, although Shiv Thakor and Jeehan Mendis, who both took four wickets, benefited from Worcestershire’s desire to score quickly.

Wicketkeeper Daryn Smit pulling off an impressive stumping, standing up to Thakor to send back Ed Barnard, proved to be the highlight of the day for Derbyshire, who were in tatters by lunch after the top order had disintegrated.

Ben Slater chipped tamely to mid-wicket, Thakor was lbw playing back to a full-length ball from Barnard, whose direct hit from cover then ran out Luis Reece, batting with a runner because of a badly bruised ankle.

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When Godleman also paid the price for failing to get forward to Leach, Derbyshire had lost four for nine in 17 balls and the procession continued in the first over after lunch.

Wayne Madsen edged the first ball from Leach into the gloves of Ben Cox, and Alex Hughes was lbw four balls later to leave Derbyshire’s lowest total against Worcestershire, 54 at New Road in 1935, under threat.

Mendis pulled Barnard for three fours to at least avoid that humiliation but was caught behind for 18 hooking Leach, who took his fifth wicket when Smit went too far across and was lbw.

Tony Palladino went down swinging, hitting Nathan Lyon for three sixes, but the Australian had the last word when he had him caught at deep mid-wicket just before 3 pm with 47 overs remaining.