[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Day Three

Morning: More Easter sunshine to get Saturday underway, but disaster struck early as a total breakdown of communication saw a furious Brett D'Oliveira run out for 89 as he darted for an iffy third and was turned back. Matthew Waite, who refused the skipper's call, had to redeem himself by marshalling the tail, and did so admirably, reaching his half-century and then a new first-class best as he surpassed the previous 59. He was supported with a few handy boundaries from Joe Leach until the big man was caught at leg-gully for 16, a short cameo from Josh Tongue who perished the same way for 4, and finally by Ben Gibbon in a stubborn last-wicket stand that lasted the best part of two hours. Gibbon, caught on 4 but reprieved by a no-ball, punished Derbyshire by sticking to the crease tenaciously while Waite played a patient and judicious knock worthy of Ed Barnard, reaching his maiden first-class century by cutting Leus du Plooy through third man for four. By the time Gibbon was finally caught at midwicket for 30, Worcestershire had racked up 473 and a lead of 152.

Afternoon: If there was one point of concern in the morning session it was the relative ease with which the Worcestershire tail wagged, suggesting that the pitch might, as in previous years at Derby, have grown placid. Sure enough, there was little to trouble the Derbyshire openers as they saw off the new ball, and Worcestershire were again guilty of some loose bowling which allowed Billy Godleman and Haider Ali to go on the attack. The hosts had reached 134-0 and very nearly wiped out the deficit before Dolly made the breakthrough shortly before tea, sending down a quick, flat delivery which pinned Haider LBW for 65. With the door wide open, Leach was able to bowl Brook Guest for a duck with a ball that nipped away, and Derbyshire had tea on 136-2, trailing by 16.

Evening: Though the deficit was soon wiped out, a vast improvement in the bowling slowed the scoreboard and threatened the batsmen after the interval. The reward came with another wicket for Leach, dismissing Wayne Madsen LBW for just 16, and though Gibbon dropped Godleman at slip shortly after, he then made amends by bowling the opener for 86 in his next over. The middle order subsidence continued as Dolly bowled Matt Lamb through the gate for 16 and Waite sent Dal back to the pavilion LBW for 1, before Zak Chappell was agonisingly dropped at backward point. Derbyshire closed on 269-6, leading by 117, and the match very much hinges on the current partnership of Du Plooy and Chappell. With the new ball due sometime near noon on Sunday, the Pears have to look to skittle the hosts by lunch and hopefully chase a total not too far in excess of 200 on a pitch that may yet misbehave.