WORCESTERSHIRE soon lost Philip Weston after winning the toss and deciding to bat in the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at New Road.

He managed just five before driving at paceman Davis Lucas and being caught at third slip by Kevin Pietersen.

Weston had launched the County's innings with Anurag Singh who survived a loud lbw appeal before powering Lucas's next delivery to the rails.

New batsman Graeme Hick soon overtook Singh's score, getting off the mark with two successive fours off Lucas.

He then turned his attention to Andrew Harris who was twice hammered to the boundary by Hick during an eventful over.

Worcestershire reached 34-1 after 10 overs before Notts made their first bowling change, Richard Logan replacing Harris.

County wicket keeper Steve Rhodes missed only a second Championship match through injury in 17 seasons after failing a fitness test on calf strain. It enabled young James Pipe to keep his place behind the stumps.

Spinner Matthew Rawnsley also missed out because of a foot infection while Vikram Solanki passed a fitness check on a groin injury.

Former Somerset batsman Nick Boulton came in for his Championship debut while the Notts side included former New Road spinner Richard Stemp.

Worcs: W P C Weston, A Singh, G A Hick, V S Solanki, D A Leatherdale, N R Boulton, A Bichel, D J Pipe, S R Lampitt, Kabir Ali, A Sheriyar.

Notts: D J Bicknell, J E Morris, G S Blewett, U Afzaal, P Johnson, K P Pietersen, C M W Read, R Logan, D F Lucas, R D Stemp, A J Harris.

Umpires: A Clarkson, J Holder.

A century partnership between Mark Dale (90) and Steve Moore (86) powered Worcestershire to a five-wicket win with two balls to spare in yesterday's Second Eleven Trophy clash with Gloucestershire at Ombersley.

They put on 195 in 41 overs for the first wicket after the County had been set a victory target of 246.

Gloucestershire made 245-9 with Dominic Hewson hitting 82 and Richard Williams 53. Paceman Peter Baxter claimed 3-52.