Career best bowling figures from Luke Fletcher gave Nottinghamshire the initiative when their match with Worcestershire finally started at Blackfinch New Road.

After two days of inactivity due to the wet weather, Notts bowled out the home side before lunch on the third morning. Fletcher, who hadn’t taken a five-wicket haul since 2013, claimed five for 27 as the home county were skittled out for 110 in only 26.3 overs.

Ross Taylor led the visitors’ response, making 50 as Notts reached 204 for six, a lead of 94, before bad light ended play 11 overs early.

For the third consecutive time in the Specsavers County Championship, Notts captain Steven Mullaney elected to bowl first and his attack quickly justified that decision.

Inside just 15 deliveries and 16 minutes Notts had their first bonus point, after reducing the hosts to three for three.

Jake Ball struck with just the fifth ball of the match, bowling Daryl Mitchell, without a run on the board.

Stuart Broad, playing his first match of the season, then trapped Tom Fell (0) lbw, before Brett D’Oliveira (3), guided Ball into the hands of Chris Nash at fourth slip.

Joe Clarke and Travis Head staged a partial recovery during an enterprising stand of 65.

Clarke, man-of-the-series in the recent North v South encounter, used his feet to get forward to the bowlers and raced to 42 from 35 balls, with seven boundaries.

The 21-year old looked in imperious touch before nicking Fletcher into the hands of Mullaney at second slip.

Two balls later George Rhodes (0), shouldered arms and loss his off stump, with Ben Cox (3) then edging the big fast bowler behind. Australian international Head (33) became Fletcher’s fourth victim, pinned leg before wicket.

The returning Broad gathered figures of three for 28 by bowling both Ed Barnard (4) and Charlie Morris (3) but not before Fletcher had completed his bag of wickets by bowling Joe Leach (12).

Fletcher’s previous best figures had been the five for 52 he’d taken against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge five years ago.

Nottinghamshire’s openers remained together until the eleventh over, when Jake Libby (9) was caught at slip off Leach.

His fellow opener, Steven Mullaney, reached 28 before being given out lbw off Tongue.

Taylor and Nash ate their way closer to the home side’s score before tea, with the New Zealander moving from 29 to 39 in two hits off Leach, the first a huge pulled six.

Notts went ahead in the first over of the final session but then lost the two players that had added 78 together.

Nash (26) was bowled by Leach before Taylor (50) became Tongue’s second victim.

Samit Patel (12) became the fifth lbw victim of the day, as Leach picked up his third scalp to improve his figures to three for 44.

Riki Wessels made 36 before being bowled by Barnard, after a brief stoppage for light. Tom Moores and Stuart Broad ensured a batting point was safely gathered before the umpires finally called play off for the day.

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