REPORT & ARTHUR INTERVIEW | Derbyshire defeated on Day Four by Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire celebrated victory for the first time this season when they beat Derbyshire by 10 wickets in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match at The Central Co-op County Ground.

A professional bowling display led by Gabe Bell, 3 for 44, and Will Williams, 3 for 50, dismissed Derbyshire for 252 with Matthew Montgomery’s 74 and 50 from Luis Reece at least saving the hosts from an innings defeat.

Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth knocked off the 36 runs required in less than five overs to complete a 21 points victory with Derbyshire taking 3 points.

With the possibility of rain later in the afternoon at Derby, Gloucestershire needed to make early in-roads and their seamers obliged with two wickets in consecutive overs.

Montgomery completed his maiden first-class 50 for Derbyshire but in the next over, Gabe dug one in short and Ben Aitchison could only lob back a return catch.

Martin Andersson survived a big shout for lbw but the next ball from Williams took the outside edge and James Bracey standing up made no mistake.

Derbyshire’s hopes of saving the match took another blow four overs later when Williams found some late movement to knock back Brooke Guest’s off stump.

Reece helped Montgomery hold up the visitors for 11 overs but the switch to spin took Gloucestershire a step closer to victory.

Montgomery was beaten pushing half forward and Graeme van Buuren’s appeal was upheld to leave Derbyshire in deep trouble on 165 for 7.

The hosts should have lost an eighth in the same over when Zak Chappell chipped a gentle catch to cover where Miles Hammond inexplicably managed to spill it.

Chappell was still there at lunch with Hammond no doubt reflecting on that drop and hoping any showers would miss Derby.

Reece and Chappell continued to chip away at the deficit with Reece sweeping Ed Middleton for four to reach 50 before Gloucestershire took the second new ball.

Williams struck immediately, getting one to straighten to bowl Reece and just after the innings defeat was avoided, Shoaib Bashir edged Bell to second slip.

But there was more frustration for Gloucestershire as Muhammad Abbas helped Chappell resist for another 12 overs before Middleton bowled the Pakistan pace bowler on the stroke of tea.

Bancroft and Charlesworth wasted no time in sealing victory with Derbyshire bowling their spinners to avoid losing a point for a slow over rate.