Chesterfield's greatest match

Although I would love to persuade myself otherwise, it was not the Gillette Cup semi-final of 1969.

The honour has to go to the game played from July 18-20 in 1904, between Derbyshire and Essex. It was played from a Monday to Wednesday, so fixture planners made their mistakes at that time too...

Nonetheless, around 2,000 people were present at Chesterfield to see the first day against a strong batting side. None of them could have predicted what was about to unfold.

On a very hot and sunny day, Essex reached 179-3 at lunch. Remember, this was at a time when a six had to be hit out of the ground rather than just over the ropes. The prolific P.A. Perrin, a tall, elegant batsman was unbeaten on 79. In the afternoon he reached his century then cut loose until he was badly dropped by Bill Bestwick (a poor fielder) at mid-on. The unlucky bowler was Arnold Warren, but he then took two wickets in two balls to leave the visitors on 314-6. That was as good as it got though, as Perrin moved on from his good fortune and finished the first day unbeaten on 295 from a total of 524-8, having hit 58 boundaries. I'd like to see someone beat that today against Worcestershire...

Next morning the last two wickets added 73 as Essex were all out for 597, Perrin unbeaten on 343 with 68 fours. Avoiding the follow on was to be a huge task, with 448 required, but Derbyshire openers Levi Wright and Charles Ollivierre (pictured) put on a century stand in 55 minutes and at lunch were on 144 without being parted. The West Indian Ollivierre reached his century in 95 minutes and although Wright was out at 191, Bill Storer came in and added a further 128 in 75 minutes. Ollivierre reached his double century in 190 minute with a five and 33 fours, only the third Derbyshire batsman to do so, and a celebratory drink was taken out to him. he had originally come to England with the West Indies touring side of 1900, playing for his native St Vincent. Staying in England, he qualified for Derbyshire and played for Glossop until he qualified in 1902. His approach to the game brought more failures than success, but this was his greatest day.

He was eventually dismissed for 229 and had frequently hit fours from balls pulled round from off stump through mid-wicket, but he was what we would now call a typical, front of the wicket West Indian player. At the close Derbyshire had almost saved the follow on at 446-4, the day having been watched by around 3,000 fans who had their moneys worth!

The final day was cooler after the blistering heat of the earlier days and we were all out for 548. The game seemed a certain draw, but before lunch Essex collapsed against opening bowlers Bill Bestwick and Arnold Warren and were in disarray at 27-6, each having taken three wickets.

The crowd grew in the afternoon as word spread of a possible result, but Essex recovered to 80-6 before a double bowling change brought a breakthrough, the innings then subsiding to 97 all out with one player unable to bat. Warren was a tall and wiry bowler (see a future profile) reckoned to be one of the quickest in the country, and finished with 4-42.

Play was to continue until 6.15pm so Derbyshire had 125 minutes to score 147. It looked a tricky challenge in the light of the Essex collapse and when Wright went with 11 on the board Essex must have fancied their chances. The West Indian was again in prime form and reached a run-a-minute 50 with eight fours, the hundred coming up in an hour. Remember, this was an era before slow over rates and the spirit of the game was held in high esteem. When the last hour began, Derbyshire were 108-1 and needed only 39 to win, Ollivierre on 74.

Both the West Indian and Storer were keen to reach their milestones of a century and fifty respectively, the latter because he would then, as a professional, be entitled to a bonus. The remaining runs came in 15 minutes, with Ollivierre on 92 (15 fours) and Storer on 48 as the game ended with 45 minutes in hand.

Even at this distance the game was extraordinary, the run scoring aided by quick over rates and lightning fast outfield on a small ground. There have been many Derbyshire successes in the ensuing years, but none that were quite as spectacular as this.