JOHN Morris has put the challenge to Derbyshire after their impressive 185-run victory over Gloucestershire – follow that.

Derbyshire produced an outstanding all-round performance over four days at Cheltenham and the head of cricket said he wants to see much more of the same.

"That is the standard that has been set," he said. "It was a very pleasing performance and one that, over the four days, was second to none.

"They know they can do it but it has to be repeated now. If you set standards, you have to keep them high.

"I believed in this team all along. There are some very good players in there and they are beginning to show what they are capable of.

"People look at us now and know they are going to have to play well to beat Derbyshire.

"We are top and we are unbeaten as well, which is another feather in the cap for the team because we've played some solid cricket

"To be top of the table seven games in with two wins and five draws is great. We had a bit of luck when we didn't play particularly well at Glamorgan and there will be other times when we are under pressure but we just have to make sure we are capable of battling through.

"The confidence is coming into the team and when that happens, it's amazing what can happen."

The unbeaten 170 on his debut from Wayne Madsen will be the individual performance that lives in the memory from this match. The first innings century from Greg Smith was another highlight but Morris took most satisfaction from the wider picture.

"It was the way they stuck at their task, basically," he added. "Even in their second innings when we didn't get a wicket straight away after bowling them out for 164, we persevered, which in recent games is something we've not done and that's why we let the other sides get 400s.

"In this game, we never looked like doing that and that was massively pleasing for us.

"Tim Groenewald's spell on the third day was as good as he has bowled for us and the fact that Steffan Jones came in the first innings and got a four-for led the way really."