WORCESTERSHIRE eased back to the top of the Frizzell County Championship division two table as wickets tumbled on the opening day of their match against bottom-placed Derbyshire at New Road.

They leap-frogged former lea-ders Northants after picking up three points for bowling out skipper Dominic Cork's men for 163 in 44.2 overs.

In-form paceman Matt Mason took 5-43 to help the County take a one point lead at the head of the table.

Worcestershire eased past the Derbyshire total today and still had four wickets in hand with Gareth Batty and Steve Rhodes in dogged mood.

Despite 16 wickets tumbling on the day, the track was not to blame, according to ECB pitch liaison officer John Jameson who was in attendance from the start of play.

In Worcestershire's last Championship match at New Road against Durham 18 wickets fell on the opening day. Jameson was called in, but no pitch panel was convened.

Mason backed up Jameson's view on yesterday's wicket, saying: "It swung around a bit early on but the surface is quite good and there are no real demons in in."

Mason's five-wicket display followed an impressive nine-wicket haul against Durham which included a career-best 6-68.

He said: "The key is that I'm in a rhythm and I'm managing to find the edge of the bat every now and again.

"Early in the season I was getting the ball past the edge of the bat, but getting no luck. But things have turned in the last couple of games."

Mason's first-class tally so far stands at 31 which includes Mohammad Kaif who was Derbyshire's top scorer yesterday with 31, which included seven fours.

Several of Kaif's fellow batsmen, however, were guilty of some poor shots -- just like Worcestershire when they got their reply under way.

Half the side were out for 98 and after Vikram Solanki had been dismissed for 28, it was left to Batty and Rhodes to provide some much needed stability with an unbeaten partnership worth 51.

n Worcestershire have their backs to the wall after a tough opening day to their Second Eleven match ag-ainst Kent at Canterbury.

They were dismissed for 140 and then allowed Kent to pile up 226-4 by the close last night.