DERBYSHIRE'S tail got them out of trouble again as they avoided the follow-on on the third morning of their LV County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl.
An unbeaten 60 from Tony Palladino helped Derbyshire to 257 all out, leaving Hampshire with a first innings lead of 131. At lunch, they had extended that slightly at 13-0 in their second innings.
Palladino and Tim Groenewald put on 65 for the ninth wicket to carry their side beyond the 239 they needed to take the follow-on option away from Hampshire, though it is doubtful whether they would have enforced it anyway.
With Hampshire able to take the new ball only one over into day three, David Wainwright was out in the seventh over when he was bowled for one by a Kyle Abbott delivery that nipped back at him at 180-8.
But Palladino was playing well and with plenty of determination as he moved towards his first 50 of the season. He reached it by cover driving Danny Briggs for his fourth four off the 82nd ball he faced.
But, next ball, Groenewald was run out for 23 attempting a quick single to make it 245-9. Groenewald rode his luck and was given a torrid time by Abbott but it was a very valuable contribution.
Mark Footitt helped take Derbyshire to a second batting point before he was stumped aiming a huge drive at Briggs for five. Left-arm spinner Briggs finished with an outstanding 5-50 off 28.3 overs.
