THE purposefulness that has propelled Derbyshire into their surprise early lead in the second division was evident again yesterday at a chilly and overcast Wantage Road.

Steve Stubbings and Michael Di Venuto held excellent catches in the slips to back up a four-pronged seam attack in which Ian Hunter took two wickets in three balls and Graeme Welch, once more, provided the initial inspiration.

The Derbyshire captain removed both openers, defeating Chris Rogers’s attempted drive and then seeing Stubbings cling on to a shoulder-high chance to his left at first slip offered by Stephen Peters.

Steffan Jones and Mo Sheikh also played their part as Northamptonshire struggled to raise their scoring rate much above two runs an over. Andy Gray’s off breaks later won enough response to suggest that spin may prove decisive.

There is a tenacity about Derbyshire these days that reflects greatly on those responsible for turning around the fortunes of a club that, in the past three years, have finished bottom twice and second-last in 2004. They have the early edge in an attritional battle after a start delayed until 2.30pm because of rain.