In-form Greg feels he is finding his feet at last

THE partnership that carried Derbyshire closer to safety yesterday promised much for the future of the county side.

Greg Smith and Paul Borrington added 129 for the fourth wicket in a tricky situation for Derbyshire after they had slipped to 123-3 at Worcester.

A CUT ABOVE: Paul Borrington cuts at spinner Gareth Batty (main picture) on his way to 85 as Worcestershire wicketkeeper Stephen Davies tries to react. Below, Greg Smith drives the ball on his way to 88.

Though neither of them could claim the first Championship centuries their efforts deserved, there was an impressive level of maturity on show from two players who are still establishing their credentials in the game.

Smith finished with a career-best 88 and says he is finally starting to find his feet in the county game.

"I've always been a late developer really but I feel so good and I'm playing really well," said the 25-year-old.

"Andrew Brown and John Morris have worked on a couple of things with my technique and it has been constantly paying off recently.

"I've always been quite aggressive and I've toned that down a bit. My mind's in a safer place in the way that I'm starting to learn more about my own game – where my strengths and weaknesses are – and play to them.

"When I get in, I have been scoring quite freely up to 20 or 30 and getting out, which has been my problem in the past. I seem to have cut that out of my game now.

"I suppose it's better getting 70s and 80s instead of getting noughts but it would just be nice to get to three figures. That would be a burden off my back maybe."