Fuller Takes Three On Tough Opening Day
2 May 2012
James Fuller claimed three wickets as Derbyshire posted 362-9 after winning the toss on the opening day of the LV=County Championship match at Derby.
The pace bowler had figures of 3-64 from 16 overs as Gloucestershire's bowlers were made to fight hard for their victims on a good batting pitch.
At one stage the home side were 253-3, but the visitors stuck to their task to claim maximum bowling points, despite Wayne Madsen's 101, which featured 13 fours.
There were two wickets for Ian Saxelby and one each for Will Gidman, Kane Williamson, Ed Young and Benny Howell.
Former Somerset batsman Wes Durston hit nine fours in his 68, while there was also a half-century from Dan Redfern in a solid Derbyshire batting display.
Gloucestershire were without skipper Alex Gidman, who pulled out of the game after experiencing a back problem in the warm-up. He told this website: "I felt a few twinges and wasn't 100 per cent.
"It's nothing serious and hopefully I'll be fit for the CB40 game against Glamorgan at Bristol on Monday. I'll have some treatment in the morning and then return home."
Vice-captain Hamish Marshall took over as skipper and saw his team have a mixed day.
Alex added: "We had a disappointing afternoon session when the bowlers admit they didn't perform as well as they could.
"But we fought back at the end of what was a tough day. The pitch is slow and not doing a lot after all the bad weather and it's a fast scoring ground, so we are still well in the game."
For more details of the first day at Derby click on Cricket and then Match reports.
