Nils Priestley and James Taylor struck half-centuries on Day Two of the Second XI Championship game against Warwickshire at Barnt Green.
Priestley hit 77, while Taylor was unbeaten on a season-best 69 when Derbyshire declared on 301-8, still 66 runs behind the hosts’ first innings total of 367.
Warwickshire ended the day 109-1, with Ed Pollock not out on 70 and Dan Mousley set to resume with one run to his name on the final morning.
Priestley arrived at the crease just 13 overs into the day, in which time the wickets of Tom Wood (10) and Jack Redman (21) had already fallen.
Morgan was the next wicket to fall, caught by Michael Burgess off Alex Thomson for a score of 14, which brought Mark Watt out to the middle.
He and Priestley put on the first half-century partnership of the innings, combining to make 67 runs as Watt made 29, and Priestley’s half-century arrived in 74 balls, including nine fours.
Watt, Priestley and Daryn Smit (16) all fell within the next 50 runs, before Taylor and Connor Marshall put on a century stand, making 115 runs before Derbyshire decalred on 301-8.
By the end of the innings, Taylor had reached 50 in 43 balls, and had gone on to reach 69 off just 52 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes, while Marshall was also unbeaten on 39.
Still leading by 66 runs, the opening pair of Pollock and Liam Banks (30) made 90 before the latter was caught by Smit off Arthur Godsal in the 12th over.
Pollock and Mousley saw out the next six overs of the day to close on 109-1, leading by 175 heading into the final morning of the match at Barnt Green.
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