Nottinghamshire’s Academy began their season in nip and tuck fashion with a narrow friendly loss against Worcestershire in Kidderminster, despite fifties for Sam Seecharan and Farhan Ahmed.
Byron Hatton-Lowe and Ahmed also bowled economically to wrestle back momentum after the hosts had got off to a fast start in pursuit of 241 in 45 overs, but for the Pears to hit the winning runs with two balls remaining.
A second-wicket stand of 99 between Seecharan and Ahmed had given the Green and Golds a bright start after losing the toss, before wickets at semi-regular intervals stunted Notts’ progress.
The former was caught for 59, with Toby Lambert the next to fall for 30.
Ahmed was stumped two balls later to leave Nottinghamshire 163/4, but Jacob Hughes (30) and Byron Hatton-Lowe (24) offered cameos to help the visitors to their eventual total.
Worcestershire reached 130 in haste without a loss of wicket as they sought to chase the target in speedy fashion, but for Hatton-Lowe and Ahmed to claw Notts back into the contest.
The pair conceded fewer than four runs per over to take the tie to the death - and Akand Gangotra and Ben Macey claimed wickets - but Lucas Ingram’s better than run-a-ball 83 ultimately pushed the hosts to victory.