Paul Borrington again proved a frustration for Worcestershire as the stubborn young Derbyshire opening batsman inched his side away from first innings difficulties on the second day at New Road. Dropped at first slip on 40 and again at third slip on 48, the 20-year-old right-hander held out for almost five and a half hours for a LV County Championship-best 85. He had faced 249 balls and hit 16 fours.

It was against Worcestershire in May that Borrington scored his maiden first-class century, an unbeaten 102, to salvage a draw for Loughborough UCCE at Kidderminster. His innings was in marked contrast to the sparkling 149 made the previous day by Graeme Hick, a batsman at the other end of the career scale, but without it Derbyshire would have been in a considerably more fragile position.

Worcestershire's sloppy catching in the first session also allowed a life to Chris Rogers on 16 when Stephen Davies unaccountably allowed a nick off the bowling of Simon Jones to slip out of his gloves but that was to prove less expensive as the Australian's top-edged pull on 20 was safely held at square leg by Gareth Andrew.

Derbyshire were in a precarious state, a long way off the follow-on target of 301, when Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, provided the right example for his side by taking an outstanding catch on the run towards deep mid-wicket to dismiss Wavell Hinds at 123 for three but Borrington and Greg Smith's resolute effort for the fourth wicket added 129 in 37 overs.

Smith was relatively free-scoring and the prospect of a maiden first-class century was looming when Jones upset Derbyshire's progress with a burst of three for six in ten balls with the second new ball. A roar of frustration from the Welshman at a misfield had the desired effect as Borrington edged the next ball through to Davies, the wicketkeeper.

Two balls later, Rikki Clarke drove hard and also provided a comfortable chance for Davies. In his next over, Smith completed a happy trio of dismissals for the Jones-Davies combination and had to settle for a career-best 88.

With Jones, hardly charging in but still finding plenty of movement, threatening to cut deeper into the batting order, Derbyshire were grateful for the rain which cut the day short with their score 278 for six.

Scoreboard

Worcestershire: First Innings 450 for 8 dec (G A Hick 149, B F Smith 76, S M Davies 71, V S Solanki 54)

Derbyshire: First Innings (overnight 27-0)
C J L Rogers c Andrew b Mason 20
P M Borrington c Davies b Jones 85
D J Birch c Davies b Andrew 21
W W Hinds c Solanki b Mason 18
G M Smith c Davies b Jones 88
*R Clarke c Davies b Jones 0
T J New not out 11
J L Clare not out 7
Extras (b 6, lb 15, w 7) 28

Total (6 wkts, 89.4 overs) 278

G G Wagg, C K Langeveldt and K J Dean to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-97, 3-123, 4-252, 5-252, 6-261.

Bowling: Mason 23-10-45-2; Jones 20.4-2-72-3; Arif 15-4-49-0; Andrew 18-3-70-1; Batty 12-3-20-0; Solanki 1-0-1-0.

Umpires: M J Harris and A A Jones.