Hashim Amla finally found his rhythm to contribute a patient and solid 69 to Derbyshire’s 335-9 against Lancashire in the English County Championship on Sunday.

The Proteas star struggled to get into the groove in his first county match, scoring one and 20, but he was given a healthy platform this time around at Southport, one of Lancashire’s ‘alternative’ grounds, when the openers put on 155. Still, Amla had to bat with caution as wickets clattered around him. He scored just five fours off 126 balls in a three-hour stay.

After the second wicket fell, Amla and Chesney Hughes re-established Derbyshire’s dominance with an 83-run stand for the third wicket in 24 overs.

Amla was looking in ominously good form on 43 not out at tea but he lost Scott Elstone and Shiv Thakor to successive deliveries in the fifth over after the resumption when both men were lbw to Kerrigan. Three vital wickets fell in 14 balls, including  Amla, who lost his off stump to Zimbabwean Kyle Jarvis when attempting a loose drive.

His was the eighth wicket to fall, with the score on 301. Jarvis ended with three wickets, but at an expensive 4.75 an over.

Waiting to counter Derbys’ efforts are Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince.

Prince has been in sparkling form, having scored 541 runs from his eight innings, with a top score of 153. Petersen has been struggling a bit, scoring 259 from nine innings, which includes his best shot of 115 in his first innings. He averages 32.37.

Down in Taunton, Somerset, the Cape Town-born veteran Alfonso Thomas battled through the day, trying to contain Yorkshire, who ran up 343-8. Thomas bowled 21 overs without success, conceding 69 runs. Johann Myburgh was also pressed into service, bowling three overs for 17.

In Worcester, Keaton Jennings opened the Durham innings , notching nine before the close after Worcestershire were bowled out for 323 in 81 overs; a run-rate of nearly four.

Compiled by Mark Salter