Promotion contenders Derbyshire took a firm grip on their LV County Championship game against Leicestershire at Grace Road by bowling out the hosts for 177 with Stefan Jones, on loan from Somerset, taking four for 43.

Greg Smith claimed three for 31 as Leicestershire collapsed after winning the toss. James Taylor was their top scorer with 45 while the best partnership of the innings was a meagre 37 for the fifth wicket.

It was the third time in six home matches that bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire have failed to collect a batting point and by the close Derbyshire were just 110 runs behind at 67 for one.

Two wickets in three balls by Jones in his second over set the tone for the day. Matt Boyce, chasing a wide-ish delivery outside off-stump was brilliantly caught at gulley by Gary Park and Boeta Dippenaar then fell to an equally athletic catch down the leg side by wicket keeper James Pipe.

That left Leicestershire in disarray at nine for two and with Derbyshire's bowlers maintaining a good line and length the situation grew worse as the home side lost patience and discipline.

Hylton Ackerman was caught at slip off a loose drive against Smith and Leicestershire's Greg Smith, having scored 20 off 74 balls, was out shortly before lunch, slashing a catch to gulley off Tim Groenewald.

Taylor and Tom New offered some token resistance with a stand of 37 in the afternoon before the fifth wicket fell at 100. This time New chased a wide ball and Park pocketed his third catch at gulley.

That was the beginning of the end of the Leicestershire innings with Wayne White chipping a catch to mid-wicket and Taylor finally dismissed for 45 off 108 balls when he was trapped lbw attempting to sweep leg spinner Mark Lawson.

At 128 for seven, the home side looked in real danger of being bowled out for under 150 but a last wicket stand of 30 between Nathan Buck and AJ Harris gave the total a welcome boost.

Buck, who had not scored a run in his three previous first class innings, finished unbeaten on 24 and hit four boundaries.

Derbyshire had 27 overs to negotiate before the close and progressed comfortably until Wayne Madsen was lbw to the first ball bowled by left-on spinner Claude Henderson with the total at 49. But Chris Rogers was still there at the close on 29.

The only concern for Derbyshire was a shoulder injury to their leading wicket taker Graham Wagg. He pulled up in his 13th over and will have a scan tomorrow.