WORCESTERSHIRE’S charge for victory in their LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Derbyshire was severely held up by a record-breaking innings from Steffan Jones.
The visitors’ number 11 batsman bludgeoned 86, a best for a Derbyshire last man, off 70 balls as the pendulum of power started to swing away from the hosts before Worcestershire restored control.
Resuming the third day on 138-6, Derbyshire were quickly reduced to 172-9 but all that did was allow the last man to take centre stage.
Jones had been waiting on the stairs of the Graeme Hick Pavilion for his chance long before it came to him and he took it with style.
Along with Tim Groenewald, their final-wicket stand fell nine runs short of equalling Derbyshire’s best for a 10th-wicket partnership.
But that mattered not for the visitors as they were staring a certain three-day defeat at New Road in the face after Alan Richardson and Gareth Andrew had removed Robin Peterson, Tom Poynton and Tom Lungley in the opening hour of the day.
With numbers seven, eight and nine safely stored away, Worcestershire must have thought they were going to have an easy day.
However, Jones and Groenewald piled on 123 for the final wicket as Derbyshire were eventually bowled out for 295.
Worcestershire were aiming for a lead of 300-plus but Jones’ fine innings meant Derbyshire were only trailing by 264 and the members were left wondering if skipper Vikram Solanki would enforce the follow-on.
The visitors were asked to try again and Chris Rogers and Wayne Madsen made a valiant start before being handed a lifeline as the latter was put down by player-fielding coach Ben Smith on 13.
But the chance didn’t prove too costly as Australian Rogers (32) hit Jack Shantry to Phil Jaques at point.
Then Madsen edged Andrew to Smith once more and the veteran held on to send the opener back to the pavilion for 34.
With the game drifting, Jaques took a one-handed catch to dismiss Paul Borrington for 25 off Andrew.
However, Derbyshire coasted along untroubled by the Worcestershire attack following the dismissals of their top three batsmen as they closed on 183-3, trailing by 81 runs with Greg Smith unbeaten on 54.
The New Road side need to return tomorrow morning with a new-found vigour following a long, hard day in the field if they are to claim victory.
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