Wagg makes Northants pay

Graham Wagg was among the Derbyshire players to prosper with the bat

Graham Wagg’s boundary-laden 81 not out led the way for Derbyshire as five batsmen hit half-centuries on the first day of their LV County Championship Division Two match with Northamptonshire.

Paul Borrington, Greg Smith, Wavell Hinds and Jonathan Clare also reached 50 and, despite a spell in the middle of the day when David Wigley took three wickets in 10 balls, Derbyshire retained the edge to close on 352 for six at Wantage Road.

The hosts made early inroads after stand-in captain Chris Rogers, who played for Northamptonshire last season, won the toss and elected to bat.

They were unlucky not to remove Borrington in the second over when the academy graduate, making his first championship start of the season, was dropped by Stephen Peters off David Lucas.

But Lucas soon made the breakthrough when Rogers edged to Rob White at gully for one, and Dan Birch was bowled by Lucas for 15 in the 15th over to leave Derbyshire struggling on 36 for two.

Former West Indies star Hinds and Borrington dug in, frustrating the Northants attack as well as finding the boundary when they could.

Borrington struck a four through point - his eighth boundary - to bring up his fifty from 114 balls as Derbyshire went past 100.

He reached 57, his highest championship score, before he edged Lucas to White at third slip to leave the visitors 110 for three.

Hinds smashed Northants captain Nicky Boje for six to register his half-century, which spanned 86 balls and included four fours and a further two sixes.

Smith also weighed in with 50 off just 55 balls, which included seven fours. He and Hinds enjoyed a stand of 92 before Smith was caught behind by Niall O’Brien off Wigley.

Jamie Pipe had his off stump removed by Wigley, and Hinds fell to the same bowler for 76 - caught by White at extra cover to leave the first day finely balanced.

But Wagg made his intentions clear early on, smashing Jason Brown back down the ground and then over cover for six as he went to 50 off 61 balls. Clare reached the milestone off 98 deliveries with seven fours.

The pair took their stand to 141 before bad light stopped play in the 92nd over.