Madsen century guides Derbyshire to draw against Yorkshire

Wayne Madsen hit a century as Derbyshire eased to a draw against Yorkshire.

Wayne Madsen completed a courageous century and new signing Aneurin Donald added 97 as Derbyshire’s batters comfortably secured a Vitality County Championship draw against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Derbyshire started day four on 190 for three in their first-innings reply to Yorkshire’s 450 for five declared, needing to reach 301 to avoid the follow-on.

Given a day three abandonment following rain and with time running out, achieving that 301 target was always going to secure the draw. They did so inside the first 10 minutes of the afternoon and advanced to finish on 447 all out.

Madsen, 88 not out overnight, posted 104 off 226 balls. The 40-year-old was batting with a stitched up right hand following a nasty injury trying to take a slip catch during Friday’s first morning.

Donald, a winter arrival from Hampshire, narrowly missed out on what would have been his first first-class century since July 2019 as Derbyshire claimed 13 points.

Yorkshire, who were 59 for one in their second innings when bad light intervened at 4.40pm, took 16 points from their third draw added to a defeat.

Donald hit 10 fours in 118 balls, while fast bowler Zak Chappell crashed four sixes in a late 78 off 61 as the visitors pursued bonus points after lunch. Brooke Guest had fallen at the start of play for 75.

Madsen was one of three centurions in the fixture, joining England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root, who hit 126 not out and 119 for Yorkshire. Root also added three wickets with his off-spinners.

Had Yorkshire forced Derbyshire to follow-on, they still would have needed a special second-innings bowling performance to claim victory.

Taking 17 wickets in the day was by no means impossible, though unlikely on a pitch which was largely excellent for batting.

England fringe quick Matthew Fisher, the pick of Yorkshire’s bowlers with four for 96 from 27 overs, gave the hosts hope when he uprooted Guest’s off-stump with one that kept low in the day’s second over - 193 for four.

Madsen was particularly strong through the covers off the back foot en-route to his hundred off 224 balls, his 44th all-format century for the county.

He showed no signs of discomfort with regards to his hand injury.

It was a giveaway wicket when he top-edged a slog-sweep at Root to midwicket to hand Yorkshire their second wicket of the morning - 237-5 in the 78th over.

The new ball was taken shortly afterwards, but it didn’t work as the hosts would have hoped, despite two late-morning scalps for Jordan Thompson.

With Derbyshire 297 for seven at the break, they were safe.