Worcestershire's promotion dream finally died at New Road as they suffered a tail-end collapse against Derbyshire.

The final six home wickets fell for the addition of just 122 runs as they subsided for 265, meaning Graeme Hick's side picked up just two batting points to go with the three bowling points gained on day one.

With third-placed Nottinghamshire ripping through the Essex batting line-up at Chelmsford, Worcestershire cannot pass Notts even with a victory.

Even that looked a bleak prospect as Derbyshire reached 98 for two in their second innings - a lead of 79.

Vikram Solanki and Stephen Peters did their best for the home side, but no other batsman bettered 21 as Kevin Dean posted figures of four for 75.

Worcestershire's supporters must have feared the worst when Hick played on to his own stumps having made just 16.

Dean then removed Ben Smith for good measure before returning to end the innings by having last-man Matt Mason caught behind by wicketkeeper Luke Sutton.

Peters made a watchful 72 before Steve Selwood snapped up a mistimed hook off Mohammad Ali in the covers.

And Solanki was more expansive on the way to an eye-catching 81 before he was the sixth batsman out, misdirecting Graeme Welch to backward point.

The home side's bowlers at least had an early wicket to celebrate in Derbyshire's second innings - Sutton trapped leg before by Mason for two.

But Andrew Gait, with 46 not out, and Chris Bassano, 39, combined to put on 83 for the second wicket before the latter was bowled by David Leatherdale off the last ball of the day.

Worcestershire: S D Peters, A Singh, G A Hick (Capt), B F Smith, V S Solanki, D A Leatherdale, G J Batty, D J Pipe (Wkt), Kabir Ali, M S Mason, A Sheriyar.

Derbyshire: A I Gait, L D Sutton (Capt, Wkt), C W G Bassano, D R Hewson, S A Selwood, G Welch, J I D Kerr, N R C Dumelow, K J Dean, Mohammad Ali, L J Wharton.