Matt piles on the agony for Worcs
MATT Critchley enhanced his growing reputation with a three wicket haul as Derbyshire continued to dominate the LV Insurance County Championship match against Worcestershire at Derby.
The 24-year-old followed his century on day one by snaring three wickets with his leg spin to leave Worcestershire on 243-7 at the close, still 147 runs behind.
Tom Fell scored 69 and Riki Wessels 60 after Derbyshire had been bowled out for 390, with Ed Barnard taking 4-67.
“We always knew the pitch would have a bit in it early on and I thought we used the new ball really well,” said Derbyshire fast bowler Sam Conners.
“It’s important that we come back and not think the wickets are just going to come but make sure we bowl like we did today and are right on it from ball one and, hopefully, get them out cheaply.”
On Critchley, he said: “I know just how hard he’s worked this winter on his bowling, making sure his variations are all up to scratch and it’s showing in how he’s bowling.
“You give him the ball in any scenario and he’ll probably pick you up a couple of wickets, he’s a great asset for us.”
Derbyshire went into day two needing 40 runs to secure maximum batting points but Barnard cleaned up the tail to leave Harvey Hosein stranded on 83.
Worcestershire’s chances of a third bowling point appeared to have vanished when Wessels dropped Ben Aitchison at first slip off Alzarri Joseph but, three balls into the 110th over, Aitchison was caught behind off a short delivery from Barnard.
Sam Conners was bowled in Barnard’s next over but Worcestershire’s reply began badly when Jake Libby was out to the second ball of the innings.
He was beaten by a full-length ball from Connors and Derbyshire struck another big blow just before lunch when Daryl Mitchell was beaten by an inswinger from Fynn HudsonPrentice which sent his middle stump cartwheeling.
Fell was looking secure but Critchley deceived Gareth Roderick in the flight and plunged to his left to take a smart return catch.
Brett D’Oliveira and Fell steered Worcestershire into calmer waters with a stand of 58 for the fourth wicket but two wickets in the space of three overs plunged them back into trouble.
Fell clipped Michael Cohen off his legs for his 10th four to reach fifty off 141 balls but Connors had him lbw playing across the line and D’Oliveira went on the stroke of tea when he edged Critchley low to Wayne Madsen at slip.
At 135-5, the follow-on target of 241 looked a long way off but Wessels played fluently, reaching his second fifty of the season from 77 balls and adding 82 in 27 overs with Ben Cox before Critchley struck again.
Wessels was beaten by a googly which ripped through his defences but Critchley then put down a difficult return chance before Barnard had scored.
But Cox was bowled off the inside edge trying to leave a delivery from Luis Reece with only 2.3 overs to go after Derbyshire took the new ball late in the day .