GARETH Batty is eyeing a five-wicket haul as Worcestershire go in search of victory today.
The England spinner bowled unchanged for 32 overs yesterday, taking 3-76, as the County moved closer to a win over Derbyshire in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash.
And, after out-foxing Derbyshire's star batsman Michael Di Venuto in their follow-on, the home side finished the day on 205-4, still 10 runs behind the County's first innings total.
Di Venuto had lifted the home side with 111 out of an opening stand of 150 with Steve Stubbings, but Batty responded with three wickets in five overs.
The 27-year-old off-spinner finally won his duel with Di Venuto when the Tasmanian was stumped nine overs into the afternoon session. Di Venuto had been advancing down the pitch to combat Batty but he was beaten when he gave him the charge in the 50th over and James Pipe claimed his seventh victim of the match.
Batty then had Jon Moss and Hassan Adnan taken at slip before Chris Bassano clipped David Wigley to square leg as Worcestershire regained the initiative.
"It was a workmanlike day for us," said Batty. "It was never going to be as easy to roll them over as we did in the first innings because it's a pretty good pitch.
"Derbyshire applied themselves well and di Venuto is a class player. He played extremely well but I saw him coming down the wicket a little, it turned outside the outside edge and Pipey did the rest.
"It's one of those really pleasing moments because he was looking very dangerous."
Rain ultimately wiped out the final session of the day.
Ray Price, meanwhile, will be called into Worcestershire's squad for their opening totesport League Division One clash tomorrow.
The Zimbabwean spinner, who was omitted from the County's squad to play Derbyshire, will return to the fray as Worcestershire look to open their one-day account at Northampton.
The County look set to go with the majority of the squad involved in the four-dayer today but will add Price with Stephen Peters likely to drop out.
Kabir Ali is still struggling with a calf strain so Alamgir Sheriyar will continue to cover for the England paceman.
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