Di Venuto puts Derbyshire in with chance of rare win

Michael Di Venuto and Graeme Welch raised Derbyshire's hopes of their first Championship win of the summer as Warwickshire wilted on the third day at Edgbaston.

Warwickshire old boy Welch undermined his old county with his second five-wicket haul of the summer and Di Venuto then dismantled Warwickshire's powder-puff attack as he raced to a brilliant 109.

It was only the Tasmanian left-hander's second Championship century in as many seasons for Derbyshire but it turned a first innings deficit of 39 into a potential match-winning lead of 165 as Derbyshire closed on 204 for two.

Di Venuto received excellent support from Steve Stubbings in a belligerent stand of 170, Derbyshire's best for the first wicket in a year, in which the pair romped along at more than four an over.

Warwickshire either over-pitched or dropped short and Di Venuto savaged them as he cut and straight drove his way to an imperious century.

Stubbings, who reached his fifty first, was first out when he nibbled Dougie Brown to wicket-keeper Keith Piper.

Di Venuto fell shortly after he had completed his century when he top-edged Brown to square leg having struck 18 fours from 127 balls.

Earlier Welch and another Warwickshire exile, Tim Munton, had made their former county graft for runs as they extracted late movement from the pitch under heavy cloud cover.

Warwickshire's problems were increased by two silly run-outs including Dominic Ostler who returned to the crease after he was forced to retire hurt with a recurrence of an elbow injury.

Ostler has had four injections in his right elbow during the course of the season and he is already rated doubtful for next Wednesday's C&G Trophy quarter-final against Yorkshire.

Welch worked his way through the order and completed the sixth five-wicket haul of his career when Neil Carter was pinned lbw by a full-length delivery.