DERBYSHIRE were well on their way to their biggest-ever runs victory in the LV County Championship at tea on day three against Leicestershire.
After Ben Slater scored his second century of the match and Cheteshwar Pujara his first century for the county as Derbyshire declared 520 runs ahead at the 3aaa County Ground, Leicestershire slumped again to 76-7 coming to the final session of the day and, probably, the season.
Their biggest victory by runs is 363 against Middlesex at Derby in 1996.
Slater was out in the last over before lunch for 119 and Pujara moved on to an unbeaten 100 before Derbyshire declared on 373-3. Mark Footitt then tore through the Leicestershire top order for four more wickets.
That took Footitt to 105 wickets in all cricket for Derbyshire this season, which is the most since Brian Jackson and Harold Rhodes in 1965.
Following his 104 in the first innings, Slater moved to three figures off 251 balls with his 13th four. That made him the first Derbyshire player to score the first two hundreds of his career in the same match.
He was finally lbw to Dan Redfern, ending a stand of 124 for the third wicket with Pujara, who moved imperiously on to 65 not out on his home debut.
Derbyshire added only four runs to their overnight 162-1 when Wayne Madsen mistimed a pull and lobbed a catch to mid on to give Ben Raine a wicket. The skipper made 69.
Batting was tricky for the first hour but Slater and Pujara pushed on after that and though he survived a very confident appeal for caught behind on 99, he edged one through to the third man boundary to get to his hundred.
Pujara cruised to 100 off 115 balls with 15 fours and a six – the 27th century of his first-class career. Wes Durston was 40 not out when the declaration came.
Footitt took the first Leicestershire wicket with the third ball of the innings, bowling Greg Smith at 0-1. He then bowled Ned Eckersley (4), had Dan Redfern (2) lbw and had Angus Robson (20) caught behind down the leg side at 41-4.
Niall O'Brien bagged a pair when he was caught behind off Tony Palladino, Tom Wells (13) was lbw to Ben Cotton and Wayne White bowled Rob Taylor (15) to leave Leicestershire on their last legs at 76-7.
