WORCESTERSHIRE lost Stephen Peters, Graeme Hick and Ben Smith early on after choosing to bat against Derbyshire.

The County made first use of the New Road strip but saw Peters caught behind in the third over of the day off Ian Hunter's bowling.

Hick began positively, hitting Hunter for four, but the former England ace was lucky soon after when he nicked one to the boundary.

He ran out of luck in the eighth over of the morning when he gloved one to Luke Sutton for 12 as Worcestershire struggled to 17-2.

Then Smith was swiftly caught off Hunter's bowling for a duck to reduce the County to 20-3.

The County slumped to an embarrassing defeat by students yesterday.

They went down by eight wickets to Loughborough at Kidderminster after more indifferent batting.

Following on and still 103 runs behind the visitors' first innings total of 304-6, Worcestershire lost South African Zander de Bruyn cheaply.

But they were boosted by Smith's 68 which gave the former skipper some valuable time at the crease.

Supported well by youngster Steve Davies (37), the duo looked to be steering the County away from defeat.

But Worcestershire were eventually bowled out for 209 and Loughborough knocked off the 41 runs needed.