DERBYSHIRE County Cricket Club made an almost faultless start to the new season on the opening day of their first-class fixture at the 3aaa County Ground.
They bowled Durham MCCU out for 67 before lunch and opening partners Billy Godleman and Stephen Moore piled on an opening stand of 152 to put Derbyshire completely in command.
At the close, Derbyshire were 283-3
Tim Groenewald led the rout of the students with 5-27, including a spell of 4-4 in nine balls, after skipper Wayne Madsen had won the toss and made the simple decision to put the opposition in.
Conditions were perfect for the seamers and it was Groenewald who struck first, having Hugo Darby caught at second slip by Wes Durston for three to the fourth ball of the fourth over at 8-1.
Mark Footitt then had Cameron Steel caught low by Madsen at first slip and Chaitanya Bishnoi caught behind by Richard Johnson to make it 29-3 but there was then a steadying period for the students before Groenewald's switch to the city end wreaked havoc.
In his third over from that end, he struck with his first, third and sixth balls to remove Will Jenkins, Chris Purshouse and Freddie van den Bergh – ripping out the middle stump of the last batsman after two lbws.
Anish Paraam was lbw in Groenewald's next over to leave Durham 53-7 and when Jon Clare came on to replace his team-mate at the city end, there was no respite.
His first ball was a no-ball but his first legitimate delivery was caught behind to dismiss Matthew Milnes at 55-8, which became 56-9 when Liam Dixon was caught at third slip by Clare off Tony Palladino.
Finally, a good morning's work was completed when Tim Alexander was caught behind off Clare, who finished with 2-6. Footitt had 2-16 and Palladino 1-15.
Moore, making his first-class debut for the county, was first to his 50 in the reply, reaching it off 79 balls with eight fours, and Godleman hit his third six to complete his half-century, off 58 balls with five fours.
But Moore was caught at short leg off the spin of Bishnoi for 73 (102 balls and 13 fours) when the pair had put on 152 for the first wicket.
Godleman was still there on 67 not out at tea but had not added to his score when he was lbw to Milnes in the second over after the resumption. He faced 94 balls and hit seven fours with three sixes.
Madsen moved on to 42 before playing around one from Dixon and going lbw at 235-3 but Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31 not out) and Chesney Hughes (17 not out) saw their side through to the close, with two more days of this fixture to go.
