LANCASHIRE'S bowlers impressively limited the damage done by a century opening partnership between Ben Slater and Billy Godleman during yesterday’s opening day of their LV= County Championship match against Derbyshire at Southport.

Slater and Godleman hit 69 and 75 respectively after the visitors won the toss against a Red Rose attack including two spinners in Simon Kerrigan and Arron Lilley.

The pair shared 141 inside 40 overs before Tom Bailey and Kyle Jarvis struck three times apiece to help reduce the score to 335-9 in the 97th - their close of play score.

The visitors, beaten by Lancashire in the opening round at the County Ground last month, will still be reasonably happy with their position seen as Lancashire have to bat last on pitch offering slow turn.

South Africa Test captain Hashim Amla also added 69.

Slater and Godleman took advantage of a below par new ball spell, especially from Jarvis, who erred in line and length against short boundaries and a fast outfield.

Left-handers Slater and captain Godleman reached their fifties before lunch, although the latter was first to go when he edged Bailey to first slip having been caught in two minds over whether to leave the ball.

Godleman fell just under three overs later when he slashed Jarvis to gully, leaving the score at 155-2 in the 43rd.

Chesney Hughes and Amla, playing his second Championship match for Derby, then frustrated Lancashire during an 83-run stand in 24 overs through the majority of the afternoon.

But the Division Two leaders were rewarded shortly before tea when Hughes, who has played in the Bolton League for Kearsley, was caught behind to hand Bailey his second wicket - 238-3 in the 67th.

Amla reached his fifty in the early stages of the evening, but Kerrigan struck twice in two balls to get Scott Elstone and Shiv Thakor lbw.

And when Harvey Hosein mis-timed Jarvis to point, David Wainwright was bowled by Bailey and Amla bowled by Jarvis in consecutive overs, Derbyshire were 301-7 in the 91st.

Jarvis later bowled Amla before Jordan Clark got Tom Taylor caught at second slip in the day’s last over.

Lancashire have opted to leave out Australian all-rounder James Faulkner following his exertions at the recent IPL, and he is expected to debut in Friday’s T20 Blast clash against the same opponents at Derby.

Lancashire are looking to bounce back from last Friday’s 16-run defeat against Durham at Emirates Old Trafford.