Alex Lees and Phil Jaques are record-breakers for rampant Yorkshire

Lees has just signed a new deal with the club until December 2015, as have batsman Jack Leaning and wicketkeeper Dan Hodgson.

And he amassed an excellent unbeaten 171 off 286 balls in a close of play score of 367-2 from 98 overs.

Jaques remains out of contract at the end of this year and revealed earlier this week that he has yet to sit down with the county’s hierarchy to discuss a new deal. But he did not let the uncertainty worry him as he notched 139 off 253.

It was the former Australia Test player’s first ton since May of last year, and the pair shared a record-breaking 311 for the second wicket after Andrew Gale had won a crucial toss.

They came together with the score at 22-1 in the seventh over following the loss of Adam Lyth, caught behind off Mark Footitt, and recorded Yorkshire’s highest partnership for that wicket in first-class cricket against Derbyshire. They broke a 103-year record.

Conditions for batting were ideal – decent pace and carry in the pitch and a fast outfield.

But there was the odd sign of uneven bounce, which will enthuse the visitors ahead of their turn to bowl.

There was a stage when Yorkshire looked like sailing past 400 in the day. They scored 151 in the morning session and 134 in the afternoon. But Derbyshire, who lacked rhythm aside from debutant off-spinning all-rounder Peter Burgoyne (0-72 from 33), tightened up after tea.

Both Lees and Jaques, who looked untroubled throughout their innings, played all around the wicket with authority.

Lees pulled fiercely on the way to a career best and Jaques drove superbly down the ground more than once.

Another feature of their 80.5-over alliance was their running between the wickets.

Jaques fell when he edged Tim Groenewald to Wes Durston at first slip to leave the score at 333-2 after one ball of the 88th over. Derbyshire took the second new ball immediately.