County Championship: Billy Godleman rescues Derbyshire

Billy Godleman made his debut for Derbyshire in 2013 after moving from Essex

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman batted through his team's entire second innings to ensure his side drew their rain-ruined match with Gloucestershire.

With the third day completely washed out, each side made a quick declaration on the final morning, to set the hosts 302 to win from a minimum of 80 overs.

But Godleman (64 no) batted for more than five hours to lead Derbyshire to 189-8 and deny the visitors victory.

Derbyshire declared on their overnight 77-2, before Gloucestershire made 49-0.

The run chase began badly for Derbyshire when Ben Slater was trapped lbw by David Payne for a duck to the second ball of the innings and Chesney Hughes and Tillakaratne Dilshan quickly followed to leave them on 35-3.

When Scott Elstone fell shortly after lunch to leave the hosts on 64-4 to give Payne his third wicket of the innings, they looked in trouble.

But Godleman found a willing partner in Shiv Thakor and the pair steadied things during a fifth wicket stand of 69.

When Thakor was lbw to Jack Taylor for 43, there were only 26.4 overs left and, after two more quick wickets, Tony Palladino helped Godleman almost get through to the close.

Palladino played on to Taylor in the penultimate over but Godleman, who played out 194 dot balls in his 228-ball marathon, held firm.

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman:

"To chase 300 runs in 80 overs you need at least six wickets in hand in the last 90 minutes of the day.

"We'd lost four just after lunch so it was always going to be a tough ask from there."

Gloucestershire captain Geraint Jones:

"We took some early wickets and there was only one team pushing for the win.

"But full credit to my boys because, right to the end, we gave it everything we could."