Horton and Chilton take charge

Mark Chilton takes to the air to celebrate a superb century for Lancashire. He put on 202 for the third wicket with Paul Horton

Paul Horton’s second successive Friends Provident century and Mark Chilton’s first one-day hundred for almost five years carried Lancashire to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Derbyshire.

Horton followed up his maiden hundred against Northamptonshire last week with an unbeaten 111 to anchor Lancashire’s successful pursuit of 241 at Old Trafford, stretching their winning run to three games while administering on Derbyshire a first defeat in all cricket this season.

Horton was ably assisted by Mark Chilton, who contributed 101 not out at quicker than a run a ball to an unbroken stand of 202 – Lancashire’s highest for the third wicket in this competition – which saw the hosts wrap up victory with 21 balls to spare.

It was Horton’s highest one-day score and took his tally in two matches this summer past his total contribution for 2008, while Chilton’s delight upon reaching three figures for the first time since making 115 against Surrey in 2004 was evident in his impassioned celebration.

They ensured Wavell Hinds’ doughty 95 –his highest score for Derbyshire – proved to be in vain, the West Indian having performed a similar role in the visitors’ total of 240 for six after they were put in to bat.

The first task facing Horton and Chilton centred on rebuilding, following the loss of two wickets in the space of three overs.

Horton pierces the off side field en route to an unbeaten century containing only six fours

Tom Smith was caught via a leading edge off Garry Park and Ashwell Prince swung Greg Smith to deep square-leg to leave Lancashire wobbling on 39 for two.

But Horton batted with much the same common sense that marked his hundred at Wantage Road as Lancashire consolidated before pressing the accelerator.

Though Tim Groenewald was smeared over midwicket by Horton and driven imperiously though cover by Chilton, their alliance was notable for the lack of expansive strokes – at least until the final stages.

Both batsmen worked the ball into the gaps astutely, rotated the strike efficiently and ran superbly. While Horton was the first to his half-century, which occupied 64 balls, Chilton needed one delivery fewer.

Thereafter their progress was noticeably serene, with Derbyshire’s plentiful bowling changes having little effect as Lancashire cruised towards a manageable total.

Horton’s century contained just six fours and spanned 133 balls, but it was Chilton who was responsible for the late push towards the winning post, racing from 50 to three figures off just 34 balls and reaching the landmark with an emphatic pull for six over square-leg, his second maximum.

Lancashire’s early supremacy with the ball owed much to an exemplary opening spell from captain Glen Chapple, who had not conceded a run off the bat by the time he found Dan Redfern’s edge in his fourth over.

Wavell Hinds' 95 was his highest score for Derbyshire - but it proved in vain as they slipped to defeat with 21 balls to spare

Stuart Law, who spent seven productive seasons at Old Trafford before being released at the end of last summer, was afforded a generous reception on his return to the club in Derbyshire colours.

However, his fitful innings, which featured a dropped catch by Ashwell Prince at deep extra cover and a glorious lofted drive off Kyle Hogg, was ended by Chilton’s direct hit from square-leg after Steve Stubbings refused Law’s request for a single.

Stubbings was watchful in the extreme in moving to a 107-ball half-century containing just three fours, and a charge down the pitch and drive to point was hardly the most predictable end to his innings.

Hinds’ early watchfulness was replaced by barely contained aggression as he grew in confidence – he went from 50 to 95 in just 30 balls – although he was thankful that Chilton spilled a straightforward chance at deep square-leg when he had 67 to his name.

He continued to swing to good effect despite seeing Jamie Pipe drive Hogg to point and Steven Croft uproot Groenewald’s middle stump.

Having surpassed his previous highest score for the county – the 84 he made against Warwickshire in the final NatWest Pro40 game of last season – Hinds fell agonisingly short of a century when Luke Sutton dived full length to his left to take a sensational one-handed catch.