Morris and Hughes share honours

Derbyshire 323 for 8 (Hughes 73*, Madsen 56, Godleman 55, Morris 4-43) v Worcestershire
Scorecard

Charlie Morris claimed his 50th first-class wicket of the season for Worcestershire but Alex Hughes led a revival for Derbyshire on the opening day at Derby.

Morris bowled with control to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 43 from 23 overs to undermine Derbyshire after half-centuries from Billy Godleman and skipper Wayne Madsen had put them in a strong position.

The Division Two leaders hit back after lunch and secured two bowling points as the home side slipped from 153 for 1 to 262 for 7 before an unbeaten 73 from from Hughes steered Derbyshire to 323 for 8 at the close.

Worcestershire's bowlers had been frustrated during the opening session by an obdurate innings from Godleman, who dug in after Madsen elected to bat on a sunny morning.

Godleman and Ben Slater saw several edges drop just short of the slips but they were helped by Worcestershire's pacemen bowling too wide at times although Morris was unlucky during an excellent eight-over spell that cost only nine runs.

Joe Leach was more expensive but made the breakthrough in the 20th over when Slater could only fend off a short ball to second slip after scoring 29 in an opening stand of 41 but that was the visitors' only success before lunch.

Although Godleman scored only 6 from the first 57 balls he faced, he saw off the new ball and played a sound supporting role to Madsen who was soon playing with authority to carry his side to 96 for 1 at lunch.

He had a let-off on 29 shortly after the interval when he edged Mitchell McClenaghan to third slip, where Tom Fell failed to hold a difficult chance and that was looking expensive for Worcestershire as Madsen pulled Leach square for his ninth four to reach 50 from 72 balls.

He straight-drove McClenaghan for another boundary to bring up the century stand with Godleman but Morris found some late movement to have him caught at first slip for 56 and put his team back in the game.

Godleman edged Morris to first slip after scoring 55 off 148 balls and Chesney Hughes went four overs before tea on his first Championship appearance since late April when he left a ball from Leach and was bowled for 13.

Jack Shantry had Wes Durston caught low at a wide third slip for 32 and Gareth Cross became Morris' third victim when he edged a push to third slip after Derbyshire had secured a second batting point.

Wayne White had a charmed life on his return to Derbyshire and was dropped twice in the slips against the new ball before Morris beat his defensive prod and bowled him for 6 but Alex Hughes played with determination to reach his 50 off 92 balls when he edged Shantry to the third man boundary.

Shantry lured David Wainwright into chipping a catch to midwicket but Hughes and Tony Palladino gave Derbyshire a good end to a fluctuating day.

Hughes recognised the importance of Godleman and Madsen's batting when he said: "I think the work the openers did and Madders did this morning really set us up to get a score which I think is a good one on that pitch.

"It's very dry so we think it's going to take a bit of spin as we go into the game and deteriorate a bit more and if you bowl well on it, it's tough."

Meanwhile, Derbyshire are still waiting for Cheteshwar Pujara to obtain his visa so he can take up his late-season offer.