Northants feel wrath of Hinds

Wavell Hinds dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 237 with the young Dan Redfern with a big hundred © David Griffin

Former West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds served a reminder of his power by hammering an unbeaten 133 as Derbyshire completely dominated day three in the LV= County Championship Division Two match at Wantage Road.

The powerful left-hander smashed the Northamptonshire attack to all parts to record his second century of the season as the visitors closed on 371 for four.

England under-19 star Dan Redfern also weighed in with 95 as they combined for club a record fourth-wicket partnership of 237 against Northants.

But despite Hinds’ heroics it seems only a contrived finish can rescue the game from finishing as a run-filled draw.

In good batting conditions, Derbyshire openers Chris Rogers and Steve Stubbings comfortably survived the first hour.

One big David Lucas appeal aside, Rogers looked in no trouble on his return to the ground where he made a triple hundred for Northants in 2006.

This control was emphasised when he hooked a Johan van der Wath bouncer superbly for six, the ball being lost in a nearby garden.

Stubbings took a more sedate approach. When he clipped van der Wath through mid wicket for four, it was his first boundary in over 200 balls of championship cricket.

Rogers survived a half-chance off David Wigley when on 27, as a diving Ben Howgego failed to hang on to a mishit pull at square leg.

But Howgego’s blushes were spared when Andrew Hall trapped Rogers lbw in front for 49.

Former Durham batsman Garry Park joined Stubbings and they dug in to take the visitors through to lunch at 98 for one.

Park picked up the pace after the interval, striking five fours as well as top-edging van der Wath an unconventional six over wicketkeeper Riki Wessels.

Sensing his unease against the short ball, the 31-year-old paceman quickly repeated the dose but this time he was rewarded as Park gloved a looping catch to Wessels.

Two balls later Stubbings’ 119-ball 42 was brought to an ended as he was was trapped lbw by van der Wath.

Redfern and Hinds ensured this double-strike did not trigger a collapse and they added an unbeaten 57 before tea.

Hinds soon opened his shoulders against Northants’ tiring attack in the final session.

He brought up the 200 with a six over long-on off Nicky Boje, before another maximum four overs later took him to a half-century.

Redfern passed the same landmark with successive boundaries from Lucas, now operating with the second new ball.

And there was no-stopping Hinds as he smashed David Wigley for 14 from three balls to reach a tremendous 135-ball hundred, which included 13 fours and four sixes.

His onslaught continued to the close, despite surviving a simple chance to Wigley at mid-off from the probing Boje.

Redfern fell just before stumps, agonisingly close to his maiden hundred, bowled cutting at Boje, but it was Derbyshire’s day.