Worcestershire made a strong reply with the bat on the opening day of the two day match with Derbyshire at the Zayed nursery ground in Abu Dhabi.
Derbyshire made 276-3 in the opening two sessions with Wayne Madsen scoring an unbeaten century and Joe Leach picking up two wickets.
Worcestershire then scored 103-2 from 30 overs in the final session of the day in their first innings with new signing Alex Gidman unbeaten on 30.
Tomorrow Worcestershire will begin their second innings at the start of play and bat for two sessions with Derbyshire then having the final session for their second innings to chase any potential target.
All-rounder Leach made the first two breakthroughs for the county.
Leach trapped Billy Godleman lbw for 18 with 43 on the board in the 11th over.
Then the 24-year-old accounted for Ben Slater (31) who edged through to slip with the total 60-2 in the 17th over.
Derbyshire reached 110-2 off 30 overs by lunch with Wayne Madsen unbeaten on 29 and Harvey Hosein 25 not out.
They accelerated in the afternoon session with Madsen reaching his half century off 75 balls and Hosein going to his 50 off 82 deliveries.
Worcestershire all-rounder Gareth Andrew broke the partnership after it had realised more than 150 by bowling Hosein for 92.
Madsen went to three figures in the final over of the Derbyshire first innings immediately prior to tea.
Richard Oliver, who had scored 103 and 63 in his two knocks in Abu Dhabi, was rested from the action today and Tom Fell opened the innings alongside skipper Daryl Mitchell.
The pair added 44 in 14 overs before Fell was bowled by Tom Taylor for 16. Mitchell, who had two half centuries to his name from his previous two innings, departed in the same manner to Wayne White after making 27 with the total on 69-2 in the 23rd over.
But Gidman, who came in at number three, and Alexei Kervezee (11 not out) saw Worcestershire through to the close without any further setbacks.
