WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Charlie Morris picked up the 100th first-class wicket of his career in an afternoon spell of 3-4 in 12 balls as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 240 at Trent Bridge.

Openers Daryl Mitchell and Richard Oliver gave the visitors a solid start in reply at their LV= County Championship Division One relegation rivals with the half-century stand coming up in the 15th over.

But Mitchell (25) departed with 83 on the board and nightwatchman Morris (1) also fell to ex-Australian international Ben Hilfenhaus as the County reached 89-2 from 28.5 overs with Oliver (52 not out) finding some form.

Morris went to the personal bowling milestone in his 32nd match when Samit Patel (10) was caught at third slip by last week's century-maker Tom Fell.

The 22-year-old followed up with the wickets of wicketkeeper Chris Read (5) and Brett Hutton (0) in three balls.

Worcestershire bowled well in the morning session but were rewarded with only two wickets after skipper Mitchell put the hosts into bat.

Joe Leach (2-79) and Jack Shantry (2-39) were accurate and probing with two wickets apiece.

Notts were indebted to opener Brendan Taylor's innings of 69 and a last-wicket stand of 50 between Riki Wessels (65) and Andy Carter (24no).

Early on, Leach saw Taylor dropped in the gully and Morris regularly beat the outside edge.

But Notts passed 50 in the 11th over and continued to score at more than four-an-over until Shantry dismissed Michael Lumb (26) as Joe Clarke held the catch at mid-wicket with 74 scored.

Leach bowled Alex Hales, who had a loan spell at New Road last summer, for 15 to leave Notts on 98-2 in the 27th over.

Wickets tumbled after lunch and Leach enjoyed a second success when former Worcestershire academy player James Taylor (8) was adjudged lbw.

Shantry ended Brendan Taylor's knock from 120 balls with nine fours when a top edge was held by Ed Barnard at mid-off.

Morris (3-70) dismissed Patel twice playing for Oxford MCCU against Notts last season and the England one-day player became his 100th first-class victim.

Read fell to a fine diving catch by Ben Cox behind the stumps in front of England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French and the same combination accounted for Hutton two balls later.

Hilfenhaus (0) nicked Barnard (1-33) through to Alex Gidman at first slip at 170-8.

A superb throw from the deep by Barnard ran out Luke Fletcher (5) but Wessels and Carter then added 50 runs in seven overs.

Spinner Saeed Ajmal (1-9), introduced into the attack after 65 overs, had Wessels caught off a skier by Fell at deep mid-wicket to finally end the innings.

When Worcestershire launched their reply, Oliver collected the first boundary with a straight drive off Hilfenhaus.

Mitchell had a let-off on nine against Hutton when Hales spilled a chance at second slip.

Oliver brought the 50 up with a four through backward square leg off Carter in an over costing 14 runs.

Notts suffered a double setback with Fletcher, after three overs, and Carter, with one ball of an over remaining, leaving the field with injuries but did claim two late wickets.