Wayne Madsen stole the show with his 19th first class century in Derbyshire colours to leave the visitors in a commanding position against Gloucestershire at the Brightside Ground.
Madsen, unbeaten on 58 after the opening day at the Brightside Ground, joined former Derbyshire batsmen Peter Bowler, Michael Di Venuto and Arnold Hamer in having struck 19 hundreds, for the county, in the first class game.
It was also Madsen’s third century against Gloucestershire, dating back to his debut in 2009 when he helped himself to an unbeaten 170 in Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire batted with due care and attention in the final session on day two in Bristol to finish 110 for one at the close of play after Derbyshire had been bowled out for 444 in their first innings.
Resuming on their overnight total of 242 for 3, the visitors lost Neil Broom to Liam Norwell in the second over of the day and saw Wes Durston and Shiv Thakor depart before lunch, both to the left-armer David Payne.
Durston was bowled for 12 while Thakor was caught by Chris Dent, for seven, at 266-6. Thakor’s departure brought Tom Poynton to the crease, and like Madsen, he developed his innings in careful fashion.
Poynton took very few risks on his way to reaching 50 off 127 balls and looked well set, but three runs after raising his bat he would edge Norwell to Kieran Noema-Barnett at slip.
The pair, who shared in world cricket’s third highest partnership for the ninth wicket – against Northampton, at Wantage Road, back in 2009 – put on 128 for the seventh wicket, in a ball under 40 overs.
Luke Fletcher followed shortly after, off the bowling of Jack Taylor, before Madsen was dropped at long leg, by Payne, off Norwell. Still, Taylor was at it again, in the 156th over, when he had Ben Cotton caught at extra cover, off the leading edge, for 11.
Two overs later, and with Madsen having reached 150, Gloucestershire finally mopped up the Derbyshire innings when Gareth Roderick stumped Madsen off Taylor. The spinner finished with career best figures of 4-61 while Norwell ended up with 4-104 off 35 overs.
In reply, Gloucestershire made the most of some poor bowling from a Derbyshire attack led by Fletcher and Andy Carter. Dent, who took 20 balls to break his duck, looked in decent touch as did fellow opener, Australian Cameron Bancroft.
However, when Bancroft, inexplicably, shouldered arms to a straight delivery from Thakor, Gloucestershire lost their first wicket at 102 for one. Dent, who passed 50 off 89 balls, made sure there were no further setbacks as Gloucestershire reached 110 for one at the close.
Source: ECB