County Championship: Leicestershire hampered by day one rain against Worcestershire

Chris Wright took 3-33 for Leicestershire, but rain hampered any rhythm

Veteran Leicestershire seamer Chris Wright took three wickets for just 33 runs as Worcestershire closed on 118-4 after a rain-affected opening day of the County Championship Division Two season.

The 36-year-old former Warwickshire paceman led an early rout of the Pears, who slipped to 32-3, as debutants Ed Pollock and Azhar Ali, comically run out, both went for single-figure scores, as did Jack Haynes.

When Jake Libby was trapped lbw for 27, the visitors were 45-4, but skipper Brett D'Olivera (34 not out), on his first day as the Pears' new county captain, and Ed Barnard (41 not out) combined to rescue the innings with an unbroken stand of 73.

However, both were lucky to be dropped when Worcestershire old boy George Rhodes and Hassan Azad both put down slip chances.

The first two scheduled sessions were lost to a series of squally showers before 26 overs were squeezed in either side of another stoppage.

Leicestershire paceman Chris Wright:

"We were really pleased to have them 45-4, not so pleased that they got to almost 120-4 by the close, but they played nicely. But the beauty of a short session is that it allows you to regroup.

"It was quite tough bowling up the hill into a strong crosswind, so I was quite pleased with the way it came out. They were not nice conditions at all.

"It was good to have Beuren Hendricks at the other end. We are a very young side and last year it showed that we needed one more guy with a bit of experience with the ball. He is Test quality and a fit guy. Once he settles in he will be a really good asset."

Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard:

"There were a few early-season nerves and the rain delay didn't make for an easy start. Chris Wright is always going to be effective in those conditions and Beuran Hendricks is a bowler with Test experience, so it was difficult at the start.

"Dolly and I tried to play quick-tempo cricket, which was possible with a quick outfield and a good cricket wicket.

"It was good to see Dolly playing that kind of innings in his first game as captain because it is a day he has been building towards for a while, a very proud day for him and his family."

Match report supplied by PA Media.