A RECORD breaking partnership between the South African pairing of Wayne Madsen and captain Leus De Plooy saw Derbyshire take control of the County Championship match with Worcestershire at New Road. 

Having come to the crease at 32/3 in the second over of day two, the pair batted their way through two sessions to both record centuries and a share of a mammoth stand of 223, setting a new four-wicket record partnership for Derbyshire vs Worcestershire in the process.

Joe Leach finally broke the stand when trapping Madsen LBW for 140 when taking the new ball but Du Plooy stayed on to end the day 159 not out.

It was a brilliant start for the hosts when Guest knicked the fourth ball of the day  through to Gareth Roderick as Leach made the early breakthrough.

But Madsen and Du Plooy got to work thereafter and they ramped up the pressure on the Worcestershire seamers, scoring freely off some rather disappointing bowling.

The day was not even an hour old before the South African pair had reached their 50 partnership and Madsen soon had 50 of his own off just 56 deliveries, which included 11 fours. 

Du Plooy and Madsen brought up their century stand in the 30th over, having only come together in the 11th over earlier in the morning.

Du Plooy soon followed his teammate in reaching his 50 (off 68 balls) and by lunch, Derbyshire had added 131 runs to the score with Du Plooy on 62 and Madsen on 60 at 164/3. 

There was little change after the restart and Du Plooy and Madsen continued to pile on the runs with relative ease. The 150-partnership was brought up soon after lunch.

There was a golden, and rare, chance to take the valuable wicket of Du Plooy but Ed Pollock put down a catch at first slip and the afternoon was to get worse for the Worcestershire man as he juggled and then dropped Madsen on 94. 

Both went on to complete their 100s before going past the previous record stand for a fourth-wicket partnership (218) against the Pears, set back in 1992. 

They eventually ended on 267 - the second-highest partnership ever vs Worcestershire and 27th-highest partnership of all-time for Derbyshire - when Leach trapped Madsen LBW for a magnificent 140. 

Haider Ali (9) edged through to Roderick as Derbyshire lost their fifth wicket but Du Plooy continued to play his shots and ended the day unbeaten with 159, with the away side 374/5, leading by 137 runs.