Nottinghamshire had a mixed day in the field on the opening day of their Championship clash with Worcestershire at New Road.

After asking the hosts to bat first on what appeared a helpful pitch to seam bowling, Notts saw the relegations strugglers reach the lunch break only two wickets down.

Things improved in the afternoon with the Worcestershire middle order swept aside but as conditions eased only one more wicket fell in a frustrating evening session.

At the close Worcestershire were 314-7, a total Director of Cricket Mick Newell admitted was 70 more than his team were aiming for at the start of play.

He said: “It was a good toss to win on what looked like a good track to bowl, but we needed to make more inroads in the morning.

“Ideally we would have wanted Worcestershire to be four or five wickets down at lunch and to bowl them out between 200 and 250.

“Conditions got easier over the day and the pitch seemed to flatten out, but while the evening session doesn’t look too good, it was the morning that really cost us.”

Newell was far from downbeat however and added: “We’ve still got an opportunity to win the game. Our target must be to finish them off in the morning for less than 350 and then bat past their total.”

Andre Adams and Charlie Shreck both picked up three wickets but it was the Kiwi Adams who impressed most with 3-71 from 25 overs.

Youngster Andy Carter was handed his first Championship start but failed to get on the scoreboard despite producing some decent pace over the course of 18 overs.

Newell said: “Andre has been outstanding for us all season and was again our best bowler. ‘Carts’ did okay - perhaps he was a bit nervous, but he showed some pace, had some decent spells, and certainly offered something different. He’s a good prospect for the future.”