Haseeb Hameed hit his first Nottinghamshire century as the Green and Golds saw their fortunes fluctuate on the third day of the LV= Insurance County Championship encounter with Worcestershire at New Road.

After resuming on 99-0, a Charlie Morris burst shortly before lunch saw the visitors reach the first break at 192-5, before an afternoon resurgence saw Hameed bring up three figures and Tom Moores reach his fifty.

However, the tea break arrived with Notts all out, as Hameed, in departing for 111 after a five-hour stay in the middle, became one of five to fall in the space of eleven overs as Worcestershire enforced the follow-on.

Once more, though, Notts fought back, and in similar style to yesterday, as Hameed (37*), at the crease again less than an hour after being dismissed, and Ben Slater (45*) saw the Green and Golds to the close on 87-0.

As the match entered its third day, the previously placid New Road pitch appeared to take on a new lease of life, as seamers Morris and Joe Leach both found some movement early on.

It was leg-spinner Brett D’Oliveira who struck first, though, as shortly after Slater and Hameed had brought up their century partnership, the former nicked off to a juggling Daryl Mitchell to depart for 45.

West Indian seamer Alzarri Joseph then removed Ben Duckett, who clipped a catch to Ed Barnard at cover point for five, before an aesthetic innings from Joe Clarke took the Notts total beyond 150.

However, when Morris extracted some movement to bowl Clarke for 27, it triggered a pre-lunch wobble, as the seamer then went on to trap Lyndon James LBW for four and bowl skipper Steven Mullaney for two.

Hameed and Moores regrouped following the break and stood together for more than 20 overs, during which the opener reached his ton from 268 balls and Moores brought up a swift half-century with a six off D’Oliveira.

Moores fell in the same D’Oliveira over after taking 24 off it before his replacement Liam Patterson-White was then pinned leg before by Leach just one over later.

A battle to avoid the follow-on was made even more difficult when Hameed feathered Leach through to Cox, before a mix-up in the middle saw Zak Chappell run out by Mitchell for nine.

Notts were then asked to bat again by their hosts after Joseph yorked Dane Paterson to wrap up the innings, still 160 in arrears, but it was to be the Green and Golds’ evening as Slater and Hameed fought back.

A watchful, patient start was just what the doctor ordered, before a slight acceleration close to the end brought up the openers’ second fifty stand of the game, as the pair batted out the final 35 overs of the day.

All eyes will now turn to tomorrow, where Notts will once more need to show the grit and resolve they have exhibited over the past two matches.

*******

Tickets to witness Notts Outlaws’ defence of their Vitality Blast title in 2021 are now on general sale.