WORCESTERSHIRE hit back well after an early setback as their County Championship Division Two clash with Warwickshire began at Edgbaston today.

Anurag Singh, playing against his former county, was caught by wicketkeeper Keith Piper off Neil Carter off the fourth ball of the second over, without a run on the board.

But skipper Graeme Hick, who won the toss, and Philip Weston moved the score on confidently against opening bowlers Carter and Vasbert Drakes. After 11 overs they had reached 39-1 with Hick on 19 and Weston on 15.

Warwickshire: Powell, Wagh, Bell, Hemp, Troughton, Brown, Smith, Piper, Carter, Drakes, Richardson.

Worcestershire: Weston, Singh, Hick, Solanki, Leatherdale, Bichel, Rhodes, Boulton, Rawnsley, Liptrot, Sheriyar.

Gurdeep Kandola was Worcestershire's hero on the opening day of their Second Eleven Championship match against Sussex at New Road.

He hammered an undefeated 123, which contained 20 fours off 247 balls, to enable the County to close on 309-7 off 102 overs.