Chesney Hughes hit an unbeaten 137 as Derbyshire comfortably batted out for a draw on the final day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Gloucestershire at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.
With Hamish Rutherford contributing 78 to a second-wicket stand of 174, the visitors wiped out Gloucestershire’s first innings lead of 119 with few alarms under largely cloudless skies.
Derbyshire had reached 260 for two when the players shook hands at 4.50pm, by which time Hughes, who had fallen four short of a hundred in the first innings, had faced 240 balls and hit 20 fours and a six without giving a chance.
Gloucestershire took 12 points and Derbyshire eight from a game dominated by the bat on a slow, benign wicket.
The final day began with the hosts leading by 119 on first innings and Derbyshire’s first task was to avoid losing early wickets, but Ben Slater was unfortunate to be run out for six when seamer Liam Norwell, operating from the Pavilion End, tipped a straight drive from Hughes onto the stumps at the bowler’s end.
Gloucestershire were unable to capitalise on a surface offering little in terms of spin or seam movement as the draw looked inevitable.
By lunch Derbyshire were virtually safe on 105 for one, with Hughes having moved to fifty and the less secure Rutherford on 37.
62.2: CENTURY! What a match for @ChesneyH22! 96 in the first innings, now a century from 194 balls! #GLOvDER #P2bD pic.twitter.com/L5NMM3jarK
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) April 20, 2016
The home side had to wait until the 55 th over for a second success when Rutherford, who had escaped some airy shots, was caught by the diving Chris Dent at cover off Jack Taylor, having faced 142 balls.
The New Zealander had made a significant contribution, while never looking in great form, and by the time he fell his side were 61 ahead.
Hughes moved confidently to his eighth first-class century and second against Gloucestershire, bringing it up with his 16 th four, forcing off-spinner Taylor through the off-side.
The left-hander was unbeaten on 123 at tea, which was taken with Derbyshire 219 for two, exactly 100 ahead.
The shortened final session saw Hughes and Wayne Madsen (27 not out) bat effortlessly as Gloucestershire rested their main seamers.
But there was a scare for the hosts near the end as skipper and wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick had to leave the field with a hand injury, sustained standing up to the medium-pace of Kieran Noema-Barnett.
Source: ECB