ALAMGIR Sheriyar made an early breakthrough for Worcestershire in their County Championship Division Two match against arch-rivals Warwickshire at New Road today.

The lively left-arm seamer struck to remove Ian Bell after the "Old Enemy" had decided to bat in sunny conditions after winning the toss.

Michael Powell and Bell had launched their innings against the pace threat of Andy Bichel and Sheriyar

Powell got of the mark with a single off Bichel and then hit Sheriyar through mid-wicket to the rails.

Bell opened his account by turning Bichel for a comfortable two and then followed up in the same over by stearing the Aussie safely through the slips to the boundary.

A similar stroke in Bichel's next over put Bell into double figures in the fifth over.

Powell also dished out boundary treatment to Sheriyar who responded with a loud unsuccessful appeal for lbw against the Warwickshire opener.

Bell finally fell for 17 when he pushed forward to Sheriyar and was held waist high at first slip by Pollard. He was replaced by Mark Wagh who was soon into his stride.

WORCESTERSHIRE: W P C Weston, A Singh, G A Hick, V S Solanki, D A Leatherdale, P R Pollard, A Bichel, S J Rhodes, S R Lampitt, M J Rawnsley, A Sheriyar.