Derbyshire dominated Day Three versus Worcestershire, taking a total of 11 wickets after Billy Godleman had hit a double-century, to leave the hosts requiring nine wickets on the final day to claim victory.
Godleman’s maiden double-century was the highlight of an impressive morning session for the hosts, after which they declared their first innings on 467-5, with Neil Broom scoring 93.
Derbyshire continued their dominance with the ball, as Ben Cotton (4-28) and Tony Palladino (4-32) took four wickets apiece to bowl Worcestershire out for just 164, as the hosts enforced the follow-on.
At stumps, the visitors were 24-1, trailing by 279, after Cotton (1-6) had picked up his fifth wicket of the day. Derbyshire enter the final day needing nine wickets to claim their first Specsavers County Championship victory of the season. Tickets available on the gate.
Resuming on 319-3, Godleman and Broom continued their partnership on the morning of Day Three, with the former reaching his first double-century in first-class cricket from 325 balls.
Godleman added a total of 47 runs to his overnight score before, on 204, he was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off the bowling of Jack Shantry (2-102) for what is the highest score for a Derbyshire batsman against Worcestershire.
Neil Broom continued his own charge towards three figures and looked sure to get there needing just seven more runs when Shantry caught him off Brett D’Oliviera (1-57) in the deep.
Ben Slater came in and hit 28 runs off 41 balls before lunch, at which point Derbyshire declared on 465-5 and looked to make some early inroads into the Pears line-up.
The hosts then dominated with the ball as Cotton and Palladino took apart the top order. D’Oliveira (4), Joe Clarke (0) and Daryl Mitchell (2) all fell in quick succession to Cotton, as Derbyshire reduced Worcestershire to 6-3.
Palladino came to the fore taking the key wickets of Tom Kohler-Cadmore (29) – bowled – and Ben Cox (40) – trapped lbw to end their slight resistance.
The two Worcestershire batsmen had shown some grit for the visitors after Alexei Kervezee (0) and Ross Whiteley (2) had also been accounted for by Palladino.
Will Davis (1-52) then cleaned up Joe Leach for five to pick up his first wicket in Championship cricket before tea, when the visitors were 102-8.
Matt Henry (31) and Ed Barnard (28) proved stubborn before Cotton and Chesney Hughes (1-7) took the final wickets to bowl Worcestershire out for 164, as Derbyshire enforced the follow-on 303 runs ahead.
At the end of day three Cotton was in the wickets again taking the first of the second innings; Daryl Mitchell falling for six, caught at gully.
Worcestershire will resume on the final day with D’Oliveira on 14 and Barnard, used as nightwatchman, on four, trailing by 279.
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