County wrap: Last-ball miracle, Voges shines

A captains’ agreement paved the way for a thrilling last-ball finish to the Division Two County Championship match between Northamptonshire and Derbyshire on Monday.

Set 326 to win on the final day, Northants chased down the target in 64.5 overs as Derby could only secure seven of the 10 wickets they needed.

After trailing by 26 on the first innings, Derbyshire's opening pair set their side up for a declaration in sensational fashion, Luis Reece (168) and Billy Godleman (156no) combining for a 333-run stand – breaking a record for the first wicket for the home side that had stood since 1929.

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Throughout the innings, Northants employed 10 bowlers – including wicketkeeper Adam Rossington – as they seemed content to allow Derby to score quickly en route to a declaration.

Derby captain Godleman duly obliged, closing the innings with the score at 1-351 to set up the contest, and while Northants scored quickly from the outset, they also lost two wickets in the first 11 overs to add further intrigue to proceedings.

The visitors then fell to 4-124 before opener Rob Newton (98 off 124) found strong support in South African Richard Levi.

Levi, who boasts a 45-ball T20I hundred for his country, promptly swung the contest, hammering 99 from just 79 balls with 10 fours and four sixes to take his side to within 50 of the target with 68 balls still to be bowled.

His countryman Rory Kleinveldt then laced a straight six from the penultimate delivery of the match to claim an incredible victory.

"We haven't won a lot of games over the last 18 months and I believe to learn to win you sometimes have to put yourself into positions where you may lose," Derby captain Godleman reasoned after play.

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"It didn't happen this game but firstly I believe we can win games without trying to set them up and I also believe we have the character and the quality to do so.

"(The declaration) wasn't on my mind when I drove to the ground but (Northants captain) Alex Wakely hunted me down before the warm-ups.

"We discussed it as a group – I think it's important the senior guys all have a voice in the decision – and everyone thought 325 from 65 was fair to both parties."

Around the grounds

Elsewhere, ex-Australia Test batsman Adam Voges made 92 as Middlesex launched the defence of their Division One title with a hard-fought draw away to Hampshire.

Middlesex were 4-111 overnight, a lead of just 29, and in danger of suffering a last-day defeat against a Hampshire side who opened their Championship campaign with a surprise win away to Yorkshire.

Voges, 29 not out overnight at Southampton, was in sight of what would have been his 33rd first-class century when, just three deliveries after Hampshire took the new ball, he was caught behind off former South Africa fast bowler Kyle Abbott.

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The 37-year-old, whose Test average of 61.87 is second only to Sir Donald Bradman among players who have featured in at least 20 Tests, batted for nearly four hours, facing 196 balls including 19 fours. 

His exit was the start of a three-wicket collapse that left Middlesex struggling at 7-215.

But the tail wagged and a draw was agreed after Middlesex declared at 9-278 in their second innings.

Abbott maintained his fine start to the season by taking 5-59.

At The Oval, Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara's century helped Surrey to a draw with Lancashire that saw the hosts go top of the table.

Scott Borthwick (108 not out) and fellow left-hander Sangakkara (136) put on 256 for the third wicket.

At Edgbaston, England leg-spinner Adil Rashid took the one wicket Yorkshire needed to secure an innings-and-88-run win away to Warwickshire.

In-form Yorkshire paceman Ben Coad took five wickets in each innings for a match haul of 10-102.

Elsewhere in the Second Division, there was a foretaste of a potential Ashes battle to come as Nottinghamshire beat Durham by nine wickets at Chester-le-Street.

England opener Keaton Jennings carried his bat for an unbeaten 102 in Durham's second innings total of 250 against a Nottinghamshire attack led by Australia fast bowler James Pattinson.

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The duo could be in opposition when England defend the Ashes in Australia later this year and personal honours from this match were about even after Pattinson bowled Jennings for 28 in Durham's meagre first-innings of 162.

Defeat left Durham on minus-45 points after they were hit with a 48-point penalty and demoted to the second tier last season having received a financial bail-out from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

At Hove, veteran Kent allrounder Darren Stevens starred with both bat and ball in a 226-run win away to Sussex.

The 40-year-old, who'd already made two fifties, took 5-51 as Sussex were dismissed for 200 on Monday.