Leicestershire's Jefferson hits form against Derbyshire

LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Derby:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Leicestershire 279 v Derbyshire 40-2
(Derbys 3pts, Leics 2pts)
Match scorecard

Jefferson moved down the M1 from Nottingham to Leicester last winter

Leicestershire opener Will Jefferson hit 94 to help his side amass 279 against Derbyshire.

The former Essex and Nottinghamshire man was well supported by wicketkeeper Tom New, who weighed in with 62.

Paceman Tim Groenewald impressed for Derbyshire, taking 3-44, while fellow South Africans Greg Smith and Robin Peterson claimed two wickets apiece.

Derbyshire, who elected to bowl first, then lost skipper Chris Rogers and Paul Borrington before closing on 40-2.

Leicestershire certainly shaded the first day despite a batting collapse that saw the visitors lose their last nine wickets for 166 runs after a second-wicket century stand between Jefferson and the ageless Paul Nixon, who made 37.

The match marked the start of a new era for Derbyshire, who were playing a County Championship match on a pitch facing in a north-south direction at their County Ground home for the first time since 1963.

The county took the decision to rotate the square after problems with low sun halting play.

But there was little in the newly-laid surface to concern the ECB's pitch liaison officer Tony Pigott, who had the dubious privilege of watching the action on a bitingly cold day at the County Ground.