A CAPTAIN'S innings from Stephen Fleming helped Nottinghamshire Outlaws climb out of the drop zone in totesport League Division One with a five-wicket win over Worcestershire.

The 32-year-old hit a classy 73 from 95 balls with one six and seven fours which left the Royals facing a nail-biting battle to avoid relegation with just two matches left.

Earlier, tidy Nottinghamshire bowling led by AJ Harris had restricted the Royals to 200 for nine off their 45 overs.

Harris took four wickets for 48 runs with late away-swingers at a good pace and combined with Ryan Sidebottom to put the home side in charge with tight bowling.

Nottinghamshire won the toss and chose to field, and Worcestershire failed to score a boundary until the end of the sixth over.

West Indian Chris Gayle attempted to break loose with some trademark big hits -- including one six off Sidebottom which was blasted out of the ground.

But then the opener edged a delivery to Fleming at slip, who also caught Stephen Moore before Harris bowled Vikram Solanki.

Medium-pacers Mark Ealham and Gareth Clough kept things tight in the middle overs and although Ben Smith crawled to 58 off 93 balls, the Royals batsmen never got on top.

Harris returned to bag three more wickets including two in two balls, followed by a run-out, before sitting back to watch the Nottinghamshire batsmen knock off the runs.

Openers Will Smith and former Worcestershire batsman Anurag Singh produced a partnership of 51 to set them on their way. Smith produced an entertaining knock of 36 with three fours and three sixes.

Singh and David Hussey also made starts before getting out, but Fleming kept on going without trouble to push the team to within 24 of the target before playing Kabir Ali to fine leg for a fine diving catch by Moore.

Samit Patel, however, finished the job with a driven four with three overs and four balls to spare.