Derbyshire's batsmen fought back strongly after they were left to score 347 to avoid the follow-on at Derby.

Worcestershire recorded their highest-ever score in Derbyshire, 496, which left the home side facing a rearguard action with only ten men.

Batsman Chris Bassano, who scored a century in each innings of his Championship debut last month, was forced to pull out of the game and return to Tasmania after his father Brian suffered a stroke.

But Derbyshire, who lost their last Championship match by ten wickets, responded by advancing to 134-1 from 38 overs at the close for the loss of Luke Sutton.

Worcestershire were already strongly placed on 390-5 going into the second day and the lower order all chipped in to add another 106 runs.

Steve Rhodes, dropped at second slip by Dominic Cork before he had scored, made an unbeaten 37 and then took the catch which removed Sutton in the tenth over of Derbyshire's reply.

Andrew Bichel and Alamgir Sheriyar had made the ball zoom around on another steamy day but it was Kabir Ali who made the breakthrough when he got one to bounce and move away from Sutton who could not avoid getting an edge.

The second stoppage for rain kept the players off the field until 5.20 and Worcestershire should have taken another wicket when Stubbings was dropped at first slip by Vikram Solanki on 38.

The left-hander went on to complete a half-century from 89 balls and with Titchard also applying himself, Derbyshire showed they would make Worcestershire work hard on a pitch which has so far given no help to any of the bowlers.

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