WORCESTERSHIRE needed just 100 minutes on the third day at Derby to complete an impressive nine-wicket win in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two.

Although Dominic Cork and Graeme Welch both made half-centuries, it was too little too late for Derbyshire who were bowled out for 245.

Worcestershire, left to score 51, reached their target in the eighth over for the loss of Anurag Singh.

Derbyshire's only consolation was that they avoided an innings defeat, which seemed likely after the batting collapsed twice on the second day.

Cork and Welch took their partnership to 92, which at least put Derbyshire in credit, although the latter was given a let-off when Graeme Hick put down a catch at second slip off Matthew Mason.

Cork played several flowing drives, reaching 50 from 74 balls before Nantie Hayward broke through. The Derby-shire captain had made 52 when he lost his off-stump.

The South African fast bowler was generating a fair amount of pace and in his next over he had Nathan Dumelow caught behind for six.

Mohammad Ali straight drove at Hayward for four, but in the following over he edged Mason to first slip, where Vikram Solanki made no mistake.

Welch drove Hayward through the covers for three to reach his 50 from 79 balls and Kevin Dean drove Hayward for two fours before he was bowled for 21 to give the South African his fourth wicket in the innings and figures of eight for 120 in the match.

Singh and Stephen Peters made short work of Worcestershire's target, al-though Singh fell with one run needed when he drove Ali to extra cover.

That gave Hick, whose first innings 155 was a major factor in Worcestershire's supremacy, the chance to hit the winning run and secure a 21-point haul.

The victory lifts Worcestershire to third in the Division Two table.

Skipper Ben Smith said: 'We played some very good cricket and it's nice to know that we can string performances together.

"Graeme Hick showed he is still very much one of the best players in the country. There was a bit of pressure on at one point, but he played a tremendous innings."

Smith added: "I'm really proud of the way the guys went with the decision to bowl again, they really got stuck in."