Half-centuries from Brendan Taylor and Riki Wessels and two late wickets from Ben Hilfenhaus were not enough for Nottinghamshire to take the upper hand in the first day of their LV= County Championship Division One game against Worcestershire.
Having chosen to bowl first, on a wicket that certainly had its moments, Worcestershire finished the day in a strong position after bowling out their hosts for 240.
Openers Daryl Mitchell and Richard Oliver put on 83 for the first wicket after tea, to leave the visitors trailing by 151 runs with eight first innings wickets in tact.
During a morning of mixed fortunes, Worcestershire took the key wickets of Michael Lumb and Alex Hales, but missed out on the scalp of Brendan Taylor, who having been dropped at gully on 25, passed 50 for the fourth time in the Championship this summer.
Charlie Morris made the difference in the afternoon session in which he reached 100 first-class wickets.
With James Taylor and namesake Brendan having already departed, Samit Patel became the 22-year-old's landmark wicket, at 159 for 5. Chris Read and Brett Hutton followed in quick succession and when Ed Barnard had Ben Hilfenhaus caught at slip by Alex Gidman, Notts had slipped to 170-8.
Riki Wessels, who saw Luke Fletcher run out from the deep wicket boundary by Barnard, added fifty for the final wicket with Andy Carter but was last man out for 65, caught in the deep off Saeed Ajmal.
It was the 36th time in the last 37 games that Worcestershire had taken maximum bowling points and Morris finished with 3 for 70 whilst Jack Shantry and Joe Leach picked up two wickets apiece.
The visitors made steady progress after tea, whilst Notts were left struggling when both Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter left the field with injuries with Director of Cricket Mick Newell saying they are unlikely to play any further part in the match.
“Fletcher has done his hamstring and is off for scan tonight whilst for Carter it is his side again and he is unlikely to bowl again in the match,” he said.
“With Fletcher it will be a wait and see tomorrow morning but I would be very surprised if he did bowl again in this game.
“Matt Carter will also go for a scan tomorrow on a hip injury that he sustained last week, we feel like there might be some issues there and he could be a while off fitness yet.
‪Hutton and Hilfenhaus tried their best to find a way through and the latter finally snared his man – Mitchell lbw for 25 at 83 for one.
However, Oliver passed 50 off 91 balls before nightwatchman Morris was bowled by Hilfenhaus off the final ball of the day.
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