Williamson defiance grinds down Derbyshire

Gloucestershire ground it out on the final day to make sure their County Championship Division Two match at Derbyshire finished in the dullest of draws.

Although the spectacle offered no warmth to the few souls who braved the weather, Gloucestershire did all they needed to do by seeing out the remainder of a game in which they struggled from the start.

With New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson (128) and his compatriot Hamish Marshall (90) taking their third-wicket partnership to 166 in the morning, there was little chance of Derbyshire being able to press for victory on a flat wicket.

Gloucestershire, who were made to follow on after trailing by 182 in the first innings, finished on 408 for 4 in their second innings.

They began the day with a small lead of 37 and Derbyshire needed to make early progress if they were to wrestle back control of the contest.

The second new ball, available after only eight overs of the morning session, offered them their best chance and Derbyshire thought they had made their breakthrough in the third over with it when they appealed for a catch behind the wicket with Marshall on 53 and were crestfallen when umpire David Willey was unmoved.

They were made to wait until shortly before lunch for their first wicket, which came when Jon Clare beat the defensive push of Williamson and wicketkeeper Tom Poynton took the catch. Williamson, a rising New Zealand batsman, at 21, faced 272 balls and hit 16 fours.

The main focus of the afternoon was whether or not Marshall would get his first century for the county in almost three years but he fell 10 runs short when Tim Groenewald had him lbw. Ian Cockbain (63 not out) and Will Gidman (33 not out) comfortably batted out the remainder of the game.

Derbyshire's wicketkeeper, Tom Poynton, was the only Derbyshire not to have a go at bowling before a Gloucestershire declaration 10 minutes before the start of the final hour signalled the end of the match.