County Championship: Joe Clarke hits another century as Notts take early control against Pears

Joe Clarke's hundred against his old club Worcestershire was the 22nd first-class century of his career

Joe Clarke struck his second century of the County Championship season to help Nottinghamshire lay a strong foundation against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.

Clarke and Ben Slater put on 133 for the third wicket with Slater falling for 70 before Clarke, one of three home players appearing against his old club, advanced to 105 until caught behind 25 minutes after tea but Worcestershire could not quite regain the balance by the close with Nottinghamshire at 305-6.

New Zealander Nathan Smith returned figures of 3-62 overall whilst fellow overseas signing, Barbadian Jason Holder, proved tight if wicketless.

It had been an anxious start for the home side on the surface that had seen them bowled out for 80 and lose to Essex just four days earlier.

Both openers were gone by the eighth over as Smith, Worcestershire's new import this year, struck twice in his opening 19 balls.

The Kiwi hit Haseeb Hameed's middle and leg stumps with a full one when the home captain, beaten on the outside edge but losing balance aiming to leg, fell for 11 and Ben Duckett, out for nine, soon touched a defensive edge to the wicketkeeper.

Just before lunch, Slater, on 40, survived a sharp low chance to short leg off spinner Josh Baker.

Slater was caught behind flicking at a ball down the legside from Adam Finch and Smith returned for a second spell in which South African Matt Montgomery was taken at first slip for 11 as Nottinghamshire reached tea on 223-4 with Clarke unbeaten on 98.

His century, with three sixes, came up from the second delivery of the evening off 168 balls but first Jack Haynes, another former Worcestershire man, fell lbw for 15 and then Clarke himself, top-edged a cut behind off Josh Baker for 105.

Lyndon James was 39 not out at the close with Calvin Harrison, South-African born but New-Zealand raised, on a resolute 25 from 82 balls at the other end.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.