WORCESTERSHIRE'S Kabir Ali made an early breakthrough after Derbyshire had won the toss and decided to bat in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match at New Road today.

He struck in the fifth over to remove Michael Di Venuto for 12.

Di Venuto and Chris Bassano had launched bottom of the table Derbyshire's innings against the pace attack of Kabir and Nantie Hayward.

Kabir, back from England one-day duty, conceded five byes in his first two deliveries. Hayward's first ball went for four byes before Bassano opened his account with two runs off the South African.

Bassano followed up with a boundary in the same over before Di Venuto cracked two successive fours off Kabir, who was operating from the Diglis end.

Bassano was first to reach double figures when he powered Hayward to the boundary.

Di Venuto's departure heralded the arrival of Rawait Khan. Hayward bowled just two overs before he was replaced by paceman Matt Mason, who came on to bowl the fifth over.