T20 Blast: Worcestershire hold on to claim first win of campaign

Worcestershire got off the mark in this season's T20 Blast with a 24-run win over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

A fifth-wicket stand of 62 between Alexei Kervezee (43) and Ross Whiteley (34) helped the visitors post 163-6.

Notts' reply never really got going as Michael Lumb and James Taylor fell inside the powerplay overs.

Alex Hales, on loan to Worcestershire earlier in May, hit 39 and Samit Patel 41 but they fell short as fast bowler Chris Russell claimed a crucial 3-32.

Hales and Patel took the Notts total from 44-2 to 71-2 before Hales' 34-ball knock, including four fours and one six, was ended when he was trapped LBW to the spin of Moeen Ali (1-32), who was returning to the Worcestershire side after international duty with England.

Wickets continued to fall regularly with Patel the penultimate man to go as Notts finished 139-9.

Moeen, who hit 28 off 20 deliveries with the bat, was well supported by his fellow spinners Saeed Ajmal (2-21) and Brett D'Oliveira (1-21).

It was Worcestershire's first T20 win in five attempts against Nottinghamshire, who suffered their first loss in this season's competition.