BLACKCAPS opener Martin Guptill retired on 161 from 108 balls in Derbyshire’s match against University side Cambridge MCCU.
It was one-way traffic from the start, with Guptill striking six sixes and 19 fours in his innings, before walking off unbeaten. Derbyshire declared on 535-6 midway through the last session on day one.
Derbyshire’s match against Cambridge MCCU is part of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s University Matches, their first match in the LV County Championship Division Two is against Lancashire on Sunday 19 April.
Guptill will play for Derbyshire until he joins the BLACKCAPS in early May as part of the Test squad, giving him an excellent change to acclimatise to early season English conditions, notorious for green pitches, swinging balls and fickle weather.
Other New Zealanders taking part in the English County season include Jeetan Patel, one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year, who returns to Warwickshire, while James Franklin has signed a deal to play for Middlesex, where he qualifies as an non-overseas player, thanks to his Irish ancestry, as well as
Andre Adams - Hampshire
Colin Munro - Worcestershire
Craig Cachopa - Sussex
Jesse Ryder - Essex
Kieran Noema-Barnett - Gloucestershire
A number of BLACKCAPS have signed deals to play the T20 Blast competition, with Brendon McCullum joining Patel at Warwickshire, while Corey Anderson will play for Somerset and Grant Elliott will play for Leicestershire after the BLACKCAPS England tour is complete.
The English County season runs from 2 April to 25 September and incorporates the LV County Championship, the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup.
