Shreck wrecks Derbyshire

Charlie Shreck © Getty Images

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Nottinghamshire’s Charlie Shreck was quick to make up for lost time as he tore through the Derbyshire batting line-up in the LV County Championship Division Two clash at Trent Bridge.

With the first two days washed out, Shreck again demonstrated his threat with the swinging ball as he claimed 7-35 - his fourth five-wicket haul of the season - to help dismiss the visitors for 108 in just 35.3 overs.

Notts then raced past the Derbyshire total to finish 96 runs ahead, with Jason Gallian and Mark Wagh both posting fifties, in an attempt to set up the most unlikely of victories on the final day.

Gallian struck 11 fours in his 62 from 74 balls, while Wagh hit 16 fours and a six in an unbeaten 88 as Notts closed on 204 for two, with the visiting bowlers utterly failing to make use of the conditions.

After two days of torrential rain had left the outfield resembling a lake, the teams finally took to the field at 1.25pm.

Notts captain Stephen Fleming chose to field after winning the toss, which swiftly proved the right decision as Shreck struck in the fifth over when Dan Birch drove firmly to Simon Francis at mid-off.

And Francis, who signed for Notts earlier in the season after being released by Somerset in the winter, was able to celebrate his debut with a wicket in his first over as Steve Stubbings edged to Mark Ealham at gully.

Ealham got in on the act with Chris Taylor caught at first slip before Shreck switched ends to run through the batting.

Derbyshire skipper Simon Katich pushed off his hips straight to a waiting Samit Patel at short leg before Greg Smith was turned square by a ball that left him and edged to wicket-keeper Chris Read.

Shreck followed up by running out Ant Botha after chasing a Travis Birt drive to the cover boundary, with Botha well short of making his ground going for a third run.

Birt then played on, James Pipe tried an expansive drive which went to David Hussey at second slip, Graham Wagg offered a soft return catch and former Notts player Richard Hodgkinson was lbw as the visitors were bowled out in less than two and a half hours.

Despite Shreck’s example of what could be achieved in the damp conditions, the Derbyshire attack rarely found the right line and length.

Wagg was least culpable, removing Fleming early on with a lifting delivery gloved to Pipe behind the stumps, while Gallian was eventually undone by a slower ball from Smith which he edged to Botha at first slip.