Notts captain Jason Gallian won the toss and, in apparently good bowling conditions at Derby, inserted the hosts hoping to take full advantage of the green tinge on the wicket. But Nottinghamshire's pacemen responded poorly and could not generate the anticipated swing, although South African spinner Nicky Boje brought an element of control and claimed four wickets. But Chris Bassano also scored 83 as Derbyshire posted 324 for seven at stumps.

Di Venuto set the tone for the innings, racing to an unbeaten 86 at lunch, and with Gait providing sturdy support, Gallian was forced to rotate his four seamers in a vain bid for a breakthrough. Though the pair played and missed occasionally, and Gait was struck in the chest by a lifter from Greg Smith, neither were unduly troubled.

Di Venuto appeared to be on course for his second century of the season as he hammered 91 from just 110 balls but he went in the first hour after lunch to Boje, trapped lbw while sweeping after striking 13 boundaries in a superb display. It was a breakthrough that had seemed unlikely before Boje's introduction, but his left-arm spin put the brakes on the Nottinghamshire innings. His first 10 overs, which included the wicket of Di Venuto, went for just 23.

With Di Venuto gone, Gait picked up the momentum and in partnership with Bassano, guided Derbyshire past the 200 mark. From 45 when Di Venuto departed, Gait hit seven fours to race 76 before he fell to seamer Richard Logan, caught behind by England Academy squad member Chris Read for his fifth half-century of the season.

Bassano blitzed nine fours en route from 20 to 70. Rain briefly interrupted the South Africa-born number three's quest to beat his highest score of the season (79) but he eventually passed that mark after the resumption before he too fell to Boje, caught at silly point for 83.

Bassano put on 79 with promising Loughborough University graduate Steven Selwood, who played the holding role to reach 21 - his highest first class score in four matches - before Notts hit back towards the close.

Karl Krikken, also caught by Guy Welton at silly point, was Boje's fourth victim for 45 from 25 overs after Selwood and Dominic Cork (one) had both fallen to another England Academy member Paul Franks.

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