[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Day Two

Morning: A considerably cloudier Friday, and Worcestershire proceeded with caution in bowler-friendly conditions. After completing his half-century, Ed Barnard brought up the fourth batting point with a commanding pull for four through mid-wicket off Sam Conners; however, that milestone was the signal for Alzarri Joseph - who'd been visibly losing patience with the restrained role required of him - to start flashing the bat, and he duly hit Dustin Melton straight to mid-off for 12. Melton also dismissed Joe Leach in fairly short order, when the skipper rather unluckily chopped on for 5 as he attempted to play a wide delivery. But Dillon Pennington continued to set out his stall as the most cultured number eleven in the county game when he produced a chanceless knock of 24 not out, exhibiting his full armoury of cuts and drives and even a hefty blow down the ground for six off Matt Critchley, until Barnard - perhaps a little alarmed by his partner's carefree approach - felt compelled to accelerate himself, and lost his chance of a second career century when he cut Critchley into the grateful hands of backward point for 90, ending the innings on the stroke of lunch with Worcestershire 421 all out.

Afternoon: A lengthy delay thanks to persistent drizzle wiped out a solid chunk of the afternoon before the players were able to get out; then, after just eight balls, the rain returned to wipe out the remainder of the session with Derbyshire 2-0.

Evening: After much frustrating prevarication beneath thoroughly rain-free skies, the match resumed at five o'clock and brought a swift breakthrough as Pennington coaxed an edge from Billy Godleman which flew low to first slip for 10. With an attacking field set, runs were easy to come by for the visitors, and would have been even easier but for the sodden outfield denying them several certain boundaries; that aggressive field nevertheless paid off when Leach had Brooke Guest caught for 20 at square leg. Two phenomenally strong LBW shouts were then mysteriously turned down by the umpire as Derbyshire rebuilt, and it would have been a gross injustice had the two become three when Leus Du Plooy was struck bang in front with a full delivery from Ed Barnard, but fortunately the ump had been to Specsavers in the meantime, and the finger went up to send Du Plooy packing for 7. In the conditions, Worcestershire would undoubtedly have hoped for a fourth wicket to the end the day, but Wayne Madsen and Ben McDermott battled hard to reach stumps on 91-3. Honours largely even in that closing session, but Worcestershire's day again, and the match position overall is encouraging. But it'll require some hard work on the third day to keep those wickets falling and swing the pendulum in the direction of a first win.