Calvin Harrison recorded his maiden First-Class five-wicket haul before Notts extended their lead on day three, despite Worcestershire’s late order staging resistance earlier in the day and taking a flurry of wickets in the evening session. 

The Pears’ seventh and ninth wicket partnerships added 84 and 68 respectively as they were dismissed for 355, 44 short of Nottinghamshire’s first innings total, while Harrison claimed two wickets to finish with figures of 5-128.  

Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed shared an opening stand of 81 in reply to extend Nottinghamshire’s lead, but Nathan Smith took four wickets in seven balls to stunt the home side’s progress and leave the Green and Golds 195 runs in front with three wickets remaining. 

Almost an hour had elapsed by the time Notts won their first breakthrough of the day through the spin of Liam Patterson-White, his arm-ball evading the inside edge and striking D’Oliveira adjacent shortly after he’d made an 89-ball fifty. 

Nathan Smith was into his stride by then, though, and looked unflustered against Patterson-White and Harrison, as well as the short ball theory employed by Dillon Pennington. 

Rather it was Josh Baker who fell first, chipping back to Harrison for his third caught and bowled of the match before the introduction of Joe Leach. 

The seamer belied his First-Class average of 23 in reaching the lunch break unbroken with Smith with the score 331/8, rotating the strike with effect and climbing into the extra zip offered by the new ball. 

The Kiwi brought up his half-century off 103 balls by cutting to the point boundary before he fell into the Pennington’s trap and was caught by Lyndon James at deep backward-square with Adam Finch bowled around his legs to give Harrison his fifth. 

Duckett and Hameed were characteristically watchful yet positive in adding 56 before tea, with the latter cauht whilst looking to press the issue after the break for 40. 

The England opener did reach his fifty, though, with a straight drive for four off Smith, six deliveries before Ben Slater slog swept Josh Baker over timid wicket to signal Notts’ intent.

Fewer than 14 overs were left in the day when the momentum shifted in the visitors’ favour, though. 

Duckett turned to mid-wicket, Clarke was caught impressively by Gareth Roderick off the inside edge, and Matthew Montgomery was adjudged lbw to give the overseas Smith a triple-wicket maiden. 

With the first ball of the next over, he castled Jack Haynes and later bowled Harrison, between which Ben Slater clipped Baker to short-leg.

Lyndon James and Liam Patterson-White saw off the remaining pressure with both sides to return amidst an indifferent weather forecast for day four.