WORCESTERSHIRE head coach Alan Richardson and skipper Brett D'Oliveira praised their side following an opening win to start their County Championship campaign.

The Pears were set a 192 target to win after taking the last four Derbyshire wickets on day four for 74 runs in 25.5 overs, including three for pace bowler Josh Tongue.

Opener Libby and Azhar then batted with great authority during a decisive second wicket stand of 139 as Worcestershire triumphed with 24.5 overs to spare.

Libby (104*) scored an unbeaten hundred whilst Azhar (62) chipped in with the majority of the rest.

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Worcestershire took 22 points from the win; including three points for bowling and three for batting.

After the contest, Richardson was full of praise for a "fantastic performance".

Worcester News: Head coach Alan Richardson celebrated his first game in charge with a winHead coach Alan Richardson celebrated his first game in charge with a win (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

"It was a tricky little chase. As soon as you start getting over 150 and you are close to 200 you think 'anything could sort of happen'" he said.

"I thought Jake (Libby) applied himself brilliantly well and his and Azhar’s partnership broke the back out of it for us.

"The last thing you want is for them to get a bit of momentum and take some early wickets and we started nice and positively.

"Ed (Pollock) got out quite early but he had given us that little bit of momentum to start off with. 

"The wicket got a little bit flatter as the game went on so, as long as the guys applied themselves, which they did brilliantly well, and played positively with some nice intent, a fantastic performance."

There were a number of considerable contributions over the four days, both with bat and ball, as Worcestershire produced the perfect start to the campaign.

Matthew Waite scored an unbeaten century in the first innings and also took four wickets with the ball in Derbyshire's opening innings. D'Oliveira battled to a terrific 89 in response.

Worcester News: Matthew Waite took four wickets, followed by scoring a century in the first inningsMatthew Waite took four wickets, followed by scoring a century in the first innings (Image: Worcestershire CCC)

Day four also saw a sensational stumping from wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, which skipper D'Oliveira pin-pointed as a key moment.

"Gareth Roderick taking that stumping on the fourth morning was absolutely crucial, and Adam Hose making a diving catch at third slip," he added.

"All those little things add up and put us in a position to win the game.

"Matthew Waite scored a hundred, Jake Libby scored a hundred, and guys in the bowling unit chipped in throughout.

"Joe Leach I thought was tremendous throughout the whole game with the ball. He leads the attack and he is a leader on the field.

"I said in the dressing room afterwards that it was a real team victory, although individuals stood up at different times."