Kervezee heroics thwart Derbyshire

Watch free daily video highlights from every LV= County Championship match here on ecb.co.uk this summer

Alexei Kervezee scored his second first-class century as Derbyshire earned a draw against Worcestershire

Buy this photo

Alexei Kervezee defied Derbyshire's bowlers for the second time this season as his career-best 155 helped Worcestershire to safety in their LV= County Championship clash at Derby.

Opener Daryl Mitchell also kept the home attack at bay with a five-and-a-half-hour 71 in a fourth-wicket stand of 181 with Kervezee, who scored his maiden first-class century against Derbyshire at New Road in May.

The pair batted beatifully into the afternoon and, although Mark Footitt removed Mitchell with the second new ball, Worcestershire were 125 runs and the teams later shook hands on the draw with the visitors 328 for six, a lead of 202.

It might have been different had Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers had not dropped Kervezee at slip off Greg Smith when he was on 39.

At that stage, Worcestershire had only just wiped out the arrears of 126 and were three runs in front.

The 20-year-old Dutchman never offered another chance as he drove Robin Peterson's left-arm spin for two sixes en route to his 75-ball fifty, which he reached by clipping Smith to the midwicket boundary.

Derbyshire rotated their bowlers in search of a breakthrough but, with Mitchell playing the anchor role and Kervezee dispatching anything loose, Worcestershire reached lunch with a lead of 39 and seven wickets intact.

The home side had to strike quickly after the interval, but Kervezee continued to dominate, pulling Smith over wide long-on for his third six, before bringing up his hundred which included 11 fours.

Derbyshire's last hope was the second new ball and, although Tim Groenewald rattled the side of Kervezee's helmet with a short delivery, they only took the wicket of Mitchell in the afternoon.

He had faced 181 balls when he edged Footitt low to first slip where Rogers hung on but the game had all but gone and by tea.

After a short shower briefly delayed the start of the final session, Kervezee straight drove Peterson for a big six and hit Garry Park's medium pace for three fours in an over to bring up his 150 from 204 balls.

There was some belated success for Derbyshire as Shakib Al Hasan fell hooking before Kervezee's superb innings was ended by Chesney Hughes, who took his maiden first-class wicket thanks to a well-judged diving catch by Footitt at deep midwicket.

Rogers gave his leg-spin a rare outing before Worcestershire declared with the home side banking nine points and the visitors collecting seven.