Borrington blasts maiden fifty

Steve Stubbings made 18 as stand-in captain of Derbyshire

Derbyshire’s teenage batsman Paul Borrington made the most of a rain-interrupted day to score his maiden first-class half-century after Northamptonshire had put the home side in.

The 19-year-old Loughborough student made 50 from 138 balls before he was caught behind in the over before another shower ended play early with Derbyshire 93 for three.

His father Tony, who played for Derbyshire in the 1970s, arrived at the County Ground just in time to see his son turn David Lucas to long leg for the single that took him to 50 in his fourth first-class match.

It was a rare highlight on a cheerless, windswept day that started with David Sales winning the toss and giving his bowlers first use of a grassy pitch.

But they failed to take full advantage of helpful conditions and wasted the new ball by bowling too short.

Borrington was given a let-off on 15 when he edged Lucas to third slip where Alex Wakely put down the chance but Northants did break through four overs later.

Steve Stubbings had scored 18 out of an opening stand of 43 when Lucas found some movement off the seam to have him lbw.

David Lucas was the most impressive bowler on show for Northants © Getty Images

Hassan Adnan was in for five overs without scoring before he aimed a cut at a wide ball from David Wigley and was caught by Sales at first slip.

Lance Klusener tested Borrington with some short-pitched bowling but the youngster handled it well and at lunch. had scored 40 out of a total of 73 for two.

He scored another nine runs before bad light and then rain held up play until 4.20pm which gave his father the chance to get to the ground in time to see him score the single he needed off the first ball after the resumption.

Borrington had hit 10 fours in his half-century, which came off 131 balls, but he just failed to see the day out as he edged Klusener and Niall O'Brien took an excellent catch diving to his right.

The weather then closed in again leaving Greg Smith unbeaten on 16 and Dan Redfern yet to get off the mark although a young Derbyshire side still have a lot of work ahead of them to put a competitive score on the board.

Their three Australian batsmen Simon Katich, Travis Birt and Michael Dighton have returned home and experienced opener Phil Weston is out with a back problem.

That gave Borrington his chance and Derbyshire have also included Danish wicket-keeper Frederik Klokker as a batsman.

The 24-year-old left-hander, who played one championship match for Warwickshire last year, made a century on his Derbyshire debut against Cambridge University in the opening game of this season.