Derybshire smash Kent, rain forces draw between Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: Derbyshire returned to second in the table after the returning Luis Reece took 3 for 21 to help his side beat Kent by an innings and 14 runs

ECB Reporters Network | 26/05/2025 at 18:30

Derby (day four of four): Derbyshire 587-5 dec, Kent 326 & 247 - Derbyshire win by an innings and 14 runs

Luis Reece led Derbyshire's victory charge as they rolled over Kent before lunch on the final day of the County Championship Division Two match at Derby.

The allrounder picked up two wickets to claim outstanding figures of 3 for 21 from 10 overs, with Derbyshire beating the visitors by an innings and 14 runs.

After Zak Chappell struck with the first ball of the day, Kent folded in feeble fashion, losing four wickets in eight overs, to slump to 247 for 9, the injured Jake Ball unable to bat.

It was Derbyshire's second win of the season, which takes them above Glamorgan to second in the table, while Kent have now lost four matches in a row.

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^{Rain intervened to enforce a draw between Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire at Wantage Road (David Rodgers/Getty Images)}

Northampton (day four of four): Northamptonshire 469 & 259-6d, Gloucestershire 379-8d & 214-6 - Match Drawn

Rain put paid to the prospect of an exciting finish at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were eventually forced to settle for a draw in the County Championship.

The contest had been nicely poised when the weather intervened, edging in favour of the home side with Gloucestershire on 214 for 6, needing another 136 from a minimum of 24.2 overs.

Northamptonshire had set their opponents a target of exactly 350 after rattling up another 101 from the first 12 overs of the day to declare on 259 for six, built around bristling knocks of 70 and 58 respectively from James Sales and Saif Zaib.

Miles Hammond threatened to spearhead a successful Gloucestershire charge with his innings of 80, while Cameron Bancroft also posted his second half-century of the game before the home side fought back.