BILAL Shafayat's maiden first-class century kept Nottinghamshire in the hunt for victory against promotion rivals Worcestershire in their Frizzell County Championship clash at Trent Bridge.

While his team-mates struggled with the bat, the highly-rated 18-year-old propped up the innings with a magnificent 104 as Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 241 in their second innings.

Those runs looked even more crucial when Worcestershire, chasing a target of 249, slipped to 40-4, with the nerve of both sides sure to be put to the test on the final day.

Openers Stephen Peters and Anurag Singh both fell cheaply before a magnificent over by leg-spinner Stuart MacGill gave Nottinghamshire a double boost just before stumps.

Bowling from the Pavilion End, he dismissed Ben Smith thanks to a superb diving catch by Guy Welton and trapped Gareth Batty leg before with the next delivery.

Worcestershire's hopes now depend largely on Graeme Hick, who kept his cool to reach 24 not out at close, and needed to produce a typical captain's innings today.

If Nottinghamshire claim the win which would lift them into the promotion places, they will have Shafayat to thank.

He came to the crease with his side struggling on 15-3 after Alamgir Sheriyar had Jason Gallian and Darren Bicknell caught by substitute wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe, and Usman Afzaal had gone the same way off Matt Mason.

Combination

However, Shafayat and opener Welton steadied the ship, putting on 85 for the fourth wicket to take the total into three figures before the latter fell to the Pipe-Mason combination for 38.

Paul Johnson looked set to to offer good support and had made 13 when he drove Batty to Smith at mid-off. Chris Read's pull off Sheriyar then found Singh at midwicket and Nottinghamshire were rocking once again on 140-6.

Paul Franks chipped in with 21, including three successive boundaries off Kabir Ali, but he could not offer prolonged support and was caught and bowled by Batty.

MacGill was run out for two but Shafayat completed his ton from 181 balls with a late cut to short third man off Mason.

He put on 48 with Greg Smith for the ninth wicket, Worcestershire making a vital breakthrough when Shafayat drove Mason to Batty at mid-off.

Smith (31) was last man out, pulling Mason to backward square leg where Singh was gleefully waiting to give Mason figures of 4-37.