Pietersen hauls Notts out of the mire

Two batsman climbed above a mountain of 20 wickets on a fast-moving first day at New Road.

Graeme Hick's 114th first-class century powered Worcestershire to 248 and Kevin Pietersen replied in kind with an unbeaten 103 as Nottinghamshire reached 160 after struggling at 51 for 7.

The follow-on was a real danger until Pietersen found a more resilient partner during an eighth-wicket stand of 92 until David Lucas was bowled by Stuart Lampitt for 21.

Umpires Tony Clarkson and John Holder will be expected to make a routine pitch report to the ECB, but suspect batting was probably as culpable as the seamer-friendly surface.

Hick was first to put his faith in the bold approach, rushing to a first 50 from 48 balls with ten fours, two sixes and a single. A sudden stumble to 119 for 6 then promoted a quieter period and a let-off on 82 when he was dropped at deep cover.

His second successive Championship hundred at New Road arrived in 131 balls as Jamie Pipe, Stuart Lampitt and Chris Liptrot escorted the former England batsman through successive partnerships of 30 or more.

Richard Logan finally had Hick caught on the cover boundary to confirm his recovery from injury and post his first five-wicket return since moving from Northamptonshire in the winter.

Nottinghamshire then ran into trouble as Andy Bichel took 4 for 23 and almost went into terminal decline when Liptrot claimed two more. But Pietersen emulated Hick's performance by reaching the second century in his first Championship season with 20 fours from only 89 balls.