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Matt Critchley ton builds on Leus du Plooy's 98 as Derbyshire take charge

Matt Critchley walks off after making 109 Getty Images

Derbyshire 360 for 8 (Critchley 109, du Plooy 98, Hosein 65*, Godleman 50) vs Worcestershire

A Matt Critchley century and 98 from Leus du Plooy put Derbyshire in a strong position after day one of the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Worcestershire at Derby.

Critchley followed his two half-centuries at Edgbaston last week with 109 as Derbyshire closed on 360 for 8, which also included an unbeaten 65 from Harvey Hosein and 50 by Billy Godleman.

Worcestershire spilled five catches but they fought back after tea with Ed Barnard and Alzarri Joseph both taking two wickets in two balls.

Their decision to put Derbyshire in on a green pitch looked a good one when they struck in the first over but poor bowling and dropped catches allowed the home side to prosper. Dillon Pennington was the pick of the pace attack and Brett D'Oliveira's legspin demanded respect but Joseph struggled on his debut.

The West Indies fast bowler was wayward in his opening spell as du Plooy and Godleman rebuilt following the loss of Luis Reece who played across the line in Leach's first over.

Pennington saw du Plooy missed low at fourth slip before he had scored and the South African edged the same bowler through the hands of third on 14. Worcestershire were left to rue those lapses with du Plooy reaching fifty off 78 balls and Godleman accelerated after lunch until he edged Leach and Ben Cox took a fine diving catch.

When Pennington surprised Wayne Madsen with bounce and movement, Worcestershire were back in the game but inconsistent bowling allowed du Plooy and Critchley to restore Derbyshire's initiative.

Du Plooy looked certain to celebrate a century until he missed a pull at D'Oliveira and was bowled through his legs but Hosein joined Critchley to take Derbyshire past 300.

Worcestershire's frustration increased as Leach twice saw Hosein missed, on 41 and 46, but Critchley did not offer a chance and deservedly reached his fourth first-class hundred, off 137 balls, by driving Leach for his 10th four.

He was lbw driving at Barnard who removed Anuj Dal first ball before Joseph had Fynn Hudson-Prentice caught behind and Michael Cohen lbw but it was still an excellent day for Derbyshire who were playing at home for the first time since September 2019 as their Incora County Ground headquarters was used as a bio-secure international venue last season.

Worcs 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st25DKH MitchellJD Libby
2nd8TC FellJD Libby
3rd21GH RoderickTC Fell
4th10GH RoderickBL D'Oliveira
5th8MH WesselsGH Roderick
6th11OB CoxGH Roderick
7th85OB CoxEG Barnard
8th8OB CoxAS Joseph
9th17J LeachOB Cox

County Championship

Division 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS431068
LANCS421157
WARKS421156
HANTS421153
YORKS412140
SOM404014
Division 2
TeamMWLDPT
ESSEX430177
GLOUC431064
DURH311140
NHNTS412138
SUR301227
GLAM403123
Division 3
TeamMWLDPT
KENT440083
MIDDX431067
WORCS422049
LEICS412143
DERBS412142
SUSS404018
Group 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS10424151
WARKS10415145
DURH10325132
ESSEX10325129
WORCS10136109
DERBS1005572
Group 2
TeamMWLDPT
SOM10415148
HANTS10424145
GLOUC10532131
SUR10226123
LEICS10244111
MIDDX1027184
Group 3
TeamMWLDPT
LANCS10415150
YORKS10514149
GLAM10226127
NHNTS10334123
KENT1003797
SUSS1015494