Derbyshire v Sussex: Michael Yardy century boosts visitors

Michael Yardy hit an unbeaten century and put on 179 with Chris Jordan to carry Sussex into a first-innings lead on day two against Derbyshire.

Having dismissed the home side for 223, with Jordan taking 3-77 and James Anyon 3-56, they struggled to 47-3 in reply.

But Yardy (121) and Jordan (92) struck 25 boundaries between them to steer their side to 328-8, a lead of 105.

Mark Footitt dismissed Steve Magoffin and Anyon after a short final-session rain break for figures of 5-104.

Derbyshire began the day on 158-6 and at least had the consolation of earning a batting bonus point, thanks to Clare (25) and Richard Johnson (22 not out) before they were all out.

Seam-bowler Footitt did his best to get them back into the game as he picked up the early wickets of Luke Wells, who passed 2,000 first-class runs before edging into the slips, Chris Nash and Rory Hamilton-Brown.

And he then excelled in the field by taking a superb one-handed catch at square leg to dismiss Brown for 10 off Clare, who had earlier accepted a chance offered by Gatting off his own bowling.

With skipper Ed Joyce absent for family reasons, Jordan arrived in the middle with his side 109-5, but with Yardy's reassuring presence at the other end, he grew in confidence and went past his previous career-best of 79 not out.

A short rain delay may have affected Jordan's concentration, however, as after Yardy reached three figures he fell short of a a maiden hundred when he fended a rising ball from Tim Groenewald to second slip.

Magoffin and Anyon then departed in successive overs, but Yardy was unmoved as he and Monty Panesar saw out the day.

Match scorecard