LANCASHIRE made a steady start after winning the toss and deciding to bat in their Frizzell County Championship Division One match against Worcestershire at Old Trafford today.

Mark Chilton and Iain Sutcliffe launched their innings against the pace attack of Matt Mason and Andy Bichel.

Mason began with a maiden, while Bichel soon started conceding runs and by the fifth over the Lancashire total had moved into double figures.

Worcestershire made three changes from their previous match in the Championship which ended in a rain-ravaged draw against champions Sussex at New Road.

In came Kadeer Ali, Andrew Hall and Gareth Batty in place of Mark Harrity, James Pipe and the injured Vikram Solanki.