MATT Mason ensured Derbyshire's batsmen did not survive the full first day as Worcestershire dismissed their hosts for 351 in Liverpool Victoria County Championship division two.

But Ant Botha celebrated his Derbyshire recall by rescuing them from a poor total as first-class cricket returned to Chesterfield after an absence of eight years.

Botha survived a dropped catch by Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Davies to score 87 with Derbyshire recovering from 176-6.

The all-rounder had scored only four when he edged the first ball after lunch from Ray Price but Davies put down an easy chance.

Former Worcestershire player Jamie Pipe also held up his old team by scoring 46 in a stand of 83 in 25 overs for the seventh wicket with Botha.

The forecasted thunderstorms failed to materialise on another hot day but Derbyshire's position in the town with the crooked spire did not look so good when they lost both openers in the first 10 overs after winning the toss.

Steve Stubbings was run-out by a direct hit from mid-wicket and Michael Di Venuto became one of five victims for Mason when he was leg before wicket playing no shot.

Chris Taylor and Marcus North took the total to 100 before North tried to hit Price over the top and was well caught at deep mid-on.

Price then lured Taylor down the pitch two overs before lunch to have him stumped for 40 but that missed catch straight after the restart proved crucial.

Mason had Hassan Adnan taken at second slip and Graeme Welch edged Gareth Batty to slip.

But Botha and Pipe began a recovery that was continued by the rest of the lower order.

Mason bowled Pipe but Botha and Graham Wagg added 71 in 18 overs to give Derbyshire the initiative.

Botha faced 166 balls and hit 12 fours before he was caught behind down the leg side off Mason.

He followed his eight-wicket haul against Gloucestershire with excellent figures of 5-49 from 20.2 overs.

Worcestershire were left with an awkward four overs to negotiate but the openers survived to reach 10-0 at the close.