Graeme Hick nudged Dominic Cork out of the spotlight on his return to the Championship arena with the 115th century of his career as Worcestershire piled up the runs against a weakened Derbyshire attack.

Hick scored 171 from 209 balls to condemn the Championship's bottom team to another day of hard labour in steamy heat.

With Vikram Solanki hitting 109, Worcestershire had reached 390-5 by the close to leave the home side fighting a rearguard action at the end of the first day.

Derbyshire must have feared the worst after Hick won the toss and batted first on a pitch which was devoid of any pace or bounce.

Cork claimed a wicket in his fifth over when he had Philip Weston lbw for 17 and he had what looked another good shout for leg before turned down early in Hick's innings.

Anurag Singh became his second victim when he top-edged a hook and was caught at square leg for 60 but Derbyshire had to wait a long time for their next success.

Hick and Solanki picked off the bowling in the stifling humidity and although Hick miscued an attempted hook at Cork, there were few other moments of encouragement for the bowlers although Derbyshire did not wilt in testing conditions.

Hick reached his hundred - his third in four Championship innings - with a lofted drive for four off Nathan Dumelow and he was well on course for a double century until Paul Aldred took a brilliant running catch at wide long on.

David Leatherdale went for a duck but Solanki reached his first Championship hundred of the season when he drove Dumelow for his fourth six of what had been a brilliant innings.

He was out in the penultimate over of the day when he pulled Dumelow hard and low to square leg where Lian Wharton took a good catch but Worcestershire are firmly in control.

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