WORCESTERSHIRE secured third place behind champions Essex and Kent with a nine-wicket win over Derbyshire in Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

For the first time in 92 years, Derbyshire finished a Championship season without a single victory after losing in the final fixture of the season at New Road.

Having started the last day at 15-1 still 212 behind, they held off the hosts for five hours until they were dug out for 266.

Worcestershire had to make 40 and lost Brett D’Oliveira before securing their success.

At least the division’s bottom county went down on a note of defiance thanks to Wayne Madsen’s sixth Championship century of the season and Harvey Hosein’s achievement in becoming only the fourth Derbyshire wicketkeeper to make a hundred and a fifty in a match.

There was a distinction on the bowling side for Worcestershire as Joe Leach took 7-108 in the match and ended his summer with 65 wickets for the most in Division Two.

Leach had given the County encouragement in his second over of the day.

Alex Hughes (12) went forward and drove hard but edged to Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

More trouble for Derbyshire followed when Billy Godleman (16) hoisted a ball from Miguel Cummins straight to Ed Barnard at fine leg, a shot that was perhaps not in keeping with a side battling to avoid defeat.

At 29-3, Derbyshire were still 198 behind but Madsen gave them some hope with Tom Wood’s help until his younger partner was caught behind the wicket off Barnard after making 10 out of 45 in 10 overs.

It was the appearance of Hosein that injected new conviction.

In making his fifth consecutive score of 50 or more, the 20-year-old judged his role to perfection, allowing Madsen to take the main role but scoring consistently himself as they put on 124 in 26 overs.

Another New Road pitch conformed to the pattern of the season in becoming flatter the longer the game went on.

Even Madsen’s dismissal, lbw to Charlie Morris for exactly 100 after hitting 15 fours and a six, did not immediately open the door to Worcestershire.

Hosein maintained his unflappable tempo and Tom Milnes brought a bolder approach until Daryl Mitchell intervened with two wickets in eight balls.

The seventh bowler in the attack, the home captain bowled Milnes for 36 and Greg Cork for four.

Suddenly, Worcestershire’s challenge was reignited and in the next over D’Oliveira accounted for Hosein, caught at short leg for 59, and Will Davis, lbw without scoring, in successive deliveries.

Cummins then took the new ball and, when Tony Palladino was given out lbw, the last five wickets had fallen for the addition of 11 runs before Mitchell (28 not out) and Tom Fell (15no) ensured the County finished a tough campaign on a winning note.