Bob Willis Trophy round-up: Dawid Malan scores maiden Yorkshire century against Derbyshire

Dawid Malan of Yorkshire during day 2 of the Bob Willis Trophy match between Durham and Yorkshire at Emirates Riverside on August 2, 2020 in Chester-le-Street, England. - GETTY IMAGES
Dawid Malan of Yorkshire during day 2 of the Bob Willis Trophy match between Durham and Yorkshire at Emirates Riverside on August 2, 2020 in Chester-le-Street, England. - GETTY IMAGES

Dawid Malan scored a superb unbeaten maiden Yorkshire century as the hosts had much the better of day one against fellow Bob Willis Trophy challengers Derbyshire at Emerald Headingley.

Both sides have won their opening two North Group games, with Derbyshire leading the race for top spot by four points.

However, the visitors were unable to capitalise on a couple of openings having won the toss and elected to bowl under grey skies.

Yorkshire fell to 40 for two and 106 for four before closing on 280 for four from 78 overs.

Malan finished on 145 not out from 180 balls and Jonny Tattersall unbeaten on 64 from 142 after bad light ended play early. Malan’s England team-mate Jonny Bairstow made 22 having been dropped on nought.

This was the England left-hander’s competitive home debut for the White Rose following his winter move from Middlesex. The feature of his knock was his dominant driving both through the covers and down the ground.

He shared a third-wicket partnership of 66 with Adam Lyth (31) from midmorning to early afternoon and then an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 174 inside 44 overs with a quieter Tattersall.

At Trent Bridge, centuries by Ben Slater and Ben Duckett ensured that Nottinghamshire dominated the first day of their match against Lancashire. By the time bad light ended play, the home side were 268 for two with Slater 111 not out and Joe Clarke unbeaten on four.

Slater, who made 172 against the Old Trafford side when on recent loan at Leicestershire, reached his second century in five innings off 194 balls, 14 of which he had hit to the boundary. But the opener was nothing like as fluent during the afternoon – he had reached his fifty off 63 deliveries before lunch – and it was left to Duckett to push the score along with his typical sweeps and cuts during a second session when Lancashire’s bowlers went wicketless.

The former Northamptonshire batsman reached his fifty off 69 balls with seven fours, although he was nearly caught when edging Tom Bailey to the right of Keaton Jennings at second slip. However, four balls after Slater reached three figures, Duckett achieved the same landmark off 139 balls with 16 fours when he clipped Bailey to the fence at square leg.

At Arundel, meanwhile, Hampshire seamer Ian Holland grasped a rare chance to open the bowling by taking four wickets in 22 balls as Surrey slumped to 36 for five.

United States international Holland ripped through the Surrey top order along with new-ball partner Brad Wheal. Laurie Evans and Jamie Smith set about a recovery for an equally depleted Surrey, and their stand was unbeaten on 43 as the visitors reached 79 for five before rain and bad light brought an early close to play.

At Hove, opener Phil Salt made 57 before becoming Jamie Porter’s second victim as Sussex reached 93 for two against Essex. Salt had been put down at gully by Dan Lawrence in the 18th over on 32 and looked like making South Group leaders Essex pay as he reached his third half-century of the season.

But Porter, who had already removed Tom Haines for 14, picked up a second wicket after switching ends when Salt was well taken low down at second slip by Simon Harmer in the 24th over after facing 82 balls and hitting 11 fours.