DIRECTOR of Cricket Tom Moody believes Worcestershire can go into this week's match against promotion rivals Derbyshire full of confidence after drawing their rain-hit County Championship Division Two match with Nottinghamshire at Kidderminster.

The game ended in deadlock when Notts closed on 292-5 after being set a victory target of 377.

Moody, whose side ended a run of five consecutive Championship defeats at Chester Road, said: "There were a lot of positives to come out of the game and we go into the Derby match with confidence."

Third-in-the-table Worcestershire res-umed their second innings yesterday 253-4 with skipper Graeme Hick being unable to add to his overnight score of 126, the 120th first-class ton of his career.

Gareth Batty, who hit a career-best 66 not out including two sixes and nine fours off 55 balls, added an undefeated 83 in 9.3 overs with Steve Rhodes who scored 24 not out.

Notts slipped to 87-2 and then 139-3 when Guy Welton was dismissed for 76.

After that their fortunes were lifted by a 117-run partnership spanning 28 overs between Usman Afzaal and Paul Johnson.

Afzaal fell just nine runs short of a century after stroking one six and 12 fours while Johnson was undefeated on 56.

Moody said: "It was more of a traditional Kidderminster wicket on the last day. We saw a lot of wickets fall early on and it would have been a interesting game if we hadn't lost any time for rain. As it turned out we ran out of time and so did Notts."

Moody, however, regarded the County's overall performance as 'reasonably pleasing'.

He said: "I think our first innings was the disappointing part, particularly after being two for over a hundred at lunch and then finding ourselves all out for just over 200.

"We let ourselves down a little bit there, but I thought we bowled well and we certainly persevered.

Hick battled well and it was good to see Matt Mason get his first five-for in first-class cricket."

Moody also praised Batty for his batting and bowling efforts, saying: "He showed us again what he's capable of. He's learning all the time, particularly with the bat."

The County, however, were without the services of Australian all-rounder Shane Lee who is suffering from a muscle spasm in his neck.

It is hoped will be available for Worcestershire's important clash with Derbyshires which opens at Derby on Wednesday.