(Photo: David Griffin)
By Alun Rhys Chivers
Runs were never easy to come by here and Glamorgan were struggling in a low-scoring encounter that always kept the bowlers interested, even if the spectators in the stands struggled. At least they saw a star being born as Hamidullah Qadri, 16, incredibly won the game for the visitors.
After losing Luis Reece 22 deliveries into the game after electing to bat, Derbyshire recovered thanks to a 98-run partnership between Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen.
Derbyshire then lost three wickets for four runs going from 139-4 to 143-6 in a period of intense pressure from the Glamorgan bowlers. Graham Wagg, playing his second Championship game after recovering from a hernia operation, claimed his first home scalp of 2017, trapping Alex Hughes lbw. An impressive slip catch from Nick Selman to dismiss Jeevan Mendis gave him a second.
Though a 66 run partnership under the floodlights between Tom Milnes (53) and Daryn Smit (41) began Derbyshire’s fightback.
Milnes’ departure saw Qadri enter the game. But the innings was wrapped up for 288, leaving Jacques Rudolph and makeshift opener Timm van der Gugten four overs to see off before the close.
Dutchman Van der Gugten opened maturely as they put on 49 to lay the foundations.
But a spell of 3-3 in 14 balls from Tony Palladino had the Welsh county in trouble before they also lost Colin Ingram to leave them 87-4.
Aneurin Donald and Selman fought back and Selman reached his half-century but a wicket apiece to Mendis and Qadri saw them slip to 198-8. Wagg and Marchant de Lange put on 39, but both went in quick succession as Palladino finished with 4-36.
Play eventually got underway at 6pm on a rain-affected third day, and Marchant de Lange struck in successive overs to remove Palladino and Tom Taylor, leaving Derbyshire 7-2.
Reece’s half century (55) was the only saving grace for the visitors but they were 126-8 when he left and they managed to set Glamorgan 212 to win.
Rudolph and Van der Gugten survived 5.5 overs before the close, before the former was trapped lbw by Mendis from the last ball of the day.
The latter survived fewer than six overs on the last morning before Reece took an excellent catch off the bowling of Qadri.
Glamorgan eventually fell for 172 and a 39-run defeat with the amazing Qadri taking 5-60. It was Derbyshire’s first Championship win since July 2015.
Result: Glamorgan (237 & 172) lost to Derbyshire (288 & 160) by 39 runs
