Rogers Rescues Derbyshire
Rogers - In The Runs.
Chris Rogers marked his return to LV County Championship action by scoring a half-century against one of his former counties to rescue Derbyshire on a rain-interrupted first day against Leicestershire.
The Australian left-hander (52) shared a stand of 96 in 23 overs with Wavell Hinds (33 not out) until a brilliant slip catch by Boeta Dippenaar sent him back to the pavilion before another shower ended play for the day with only 30.1 overs bowled.
Leicestershire's seam bowlers had justified Paul Nixon's decision to put the home side in by striking twice in between two rain breaks but Rogers and Hinds launched a recovery that took Derbyshire to 111 for three.
Rogers, who took a break during the Twenty20 Cup, had showcased his skills during a brief spell at Grace Road in 2005 when he made a double-century against Australia before the start of the Ashes.
He had to fight to preserve his wicket on a green pitch that provided some movement for the Leicestershire opening attack of Nadeem Malik and Lancashire's on-loan paceman Tom Smith.
Only 10 minutes play was possible before the weather held up the match for the first time but when the teams returned, Malik had Dan Birch caught behind for three sparring at one that swung away.
Dominic Telo came into the game on the back of his highest score for the county - 69 against Essex - but after edging Malik over the slips, he got a good one from Smith who found some late movement and Dippenaar easily pouched his first catch.
The clouds rolled in again at 12.25pm with Derbyshire struggling on 19 for two but when the game resumed just after 3pm, Rogers and Hinds began to impose themselves.
Rogers clipped Malik firmly to the midwicket boundary and then drove Smith through the hands of Claude Henderson at mid-off for another four.
When Garnet Kruger replaced Malik, Hinds pulled his fourth ball first bounce for four onto the bonnet of a car and the South African came in for more punishment as he bowled too short.
By the time more rain forced the umpires to take tea early, Derbyshire had recovered to 73 for two and the batsmen took charge again after the resumption.
Hinds drove James Allenby just over the head of mid-on and Rogers brought up the 100 when he whipped Kruger through midwicket for another four.
Nixon's decision to turn to Henderson's left arm spin almost had Hinds caught off his first ball but Rogers completed his fifty when he ran Allenby down to third man.
But in the medium pacer's next over, he tried to drive and Dippenaar dived to his left to take the catch that sent back Rogers for a 52 which contained nine fours off 89 balls.
It proved to be the last action on a day when nearly 66 overs were lost, leaving Hinds on 33 and skipper Rikki Clarke yet to face a ball.