Malcolm has the menace

DEVON MALCOLM gave the England selectors a timely reminder that he is bowling with formidable pace and enthusiasm the week before the Oval Test, where he dismantled the South Africans last year.

Malcolm's eight overs in the 75 minutes it took to end Worcestershire's first innings included a spell of three wickets for one run in 19 balls. His extra pace and hostility proved too much for the lower order on a flat, hard, true pitch not dissimilar to typical Oval surfaces.

Worcestershire's rearguard action began farcically when David Leatherdale was run out in the first over. Malcolm was the thrower at mid-on and he was soon in action to provide two catches for the debutant wicketkeeper Steven Griffiths.

Despite a 237-run advantage Kim Barnett, the Derbyshire captain, declined to enforce the follow-on in the belief that the pitch would deteriorate on the fourth day. But there was little evidence to support this assumption as Derbyshire quietly amassed a lead of 516. Daryll Cullinan triggered the declaration after compiling his fourth century of the season. He is a cultured player with the sweetest of off drives and his hundred came off 133 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. He was ably supported by Barnett, Chris Adams and Colin Wells.

Rain curtailed the last half hour but not before Alan Warner had Tim Curtis caught at slip. Worcestershire will have to better a 70-year-old championship record if they are to achieve an unlikely win on Monday.

l The annual Ireland-Scotland match due to start at Rathmines, Dublin, yesterday, was abandoned following the death of a Scottish official just before the start of play. The countries will now play two one-day games today and tomorrow.