County Championship: Morris burst puts Worcestershire on top

Charlie Morris celebrates after dismissing Chris Read for five

Worcestershire produced a fine bowling display to restrict Nottinghamshire to 240 on the first day of the Championship match at Trent Bridge.

The hosts looked well set at 140-3 thanks to Brendan Taylor's 69, but Charlie Morris (3-70) tore through the middle order as they slumped to 190-9.

But Riki Wessels (65) and Andy Carter shared 50 for the final wicket to make the total more respectable.

Richard Oliver (52 not out) then helped Worcestershire to 89-2 at stumps.

Notts could also be facing a bowling crisis after pacemen Luke Fletcher and Carter both suffered injuries.

Earlier, Worcestershire's decision to bowl first looked questionable as Notts raced to 74 without loss, but the wickets of Michael Lumb and England batsman Alex Hales before lunch gave the visitors a boost.

Zimbabwe opener Taylor continued to play fluently after the interval but his dismissal by Jack Shantry triggered a collapse which saw six wickets fall for 50 runs.

Notts number 11 Andy Carter hit a useful 24 not out to earn his side a batting bonus point

Chief architect Morris removed the dangerous Samit Patel before tempting both Chris Read and Brett Hutton to edge behind in the space of three balls.

However, the last-wicket stand between Wessels and Carter (24 not out) in just seven overs earned Notts a batting bonus point to frustrate Daryl Mitchell's men for more than half an hour.

In Worcestershire's reply, Mitchell and Oliver shared an opening stand of 83 before the captain was out lbw to Ben Hilfenhaus just before the close of play.

Nightwatchman Morris also fell to Hilfenhaus' penultimate ball as the visitors closed 151 runs behind.

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"Fletcher has injured his hamstring and Carter his side. Both areas you would not want to get injuries as a bowler. I think both are struggling to take any further part in the game with the ball.

"In an ideal world we would want to come out hard in the morning with Hilfenhaus and Hutton but if you do that, where do you go after an hour's cricket? They've both bowled seven to eight overs, where do you go from there?

"I think you've got to use them from one end and Samit's got to try and keep it tight at the other end."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes:

"I'm delighted with the day. If you look back to the start, they got off to a good start and put on 74 for the first wicket.

"When you are put into bat that is a really good platform. So to bowl them out for 240 and, that included a last wicket stand, I thought that was a really good effort.

"We wanted to be 90 for two at the close and we have finished 89 for two, so we are also quite pleased with that.

"I thought Ed Barnard was outstanding. That lad is only 19 and to bowl with such control and movement is great."