Hick puts Worcestershire on top

Hick shared a 160-run second-wicket partnership with Ben Smith, who made 65, as promotion-chasing Worcestershire closed on 253 for four after the third day at Kidderminster.

With Worcestershire likely to make an early declaration in the morning, Nottinghamshire face the prospect of attempting to bat out most of the fourth day to avoid defeat and earn their first draw of the season.

Hick, who has had an inconsistent season so far, once again proved his class and dominated on a wicket which had seen the bowlers enjoy considerable success on the first two days. His free-scoring innings was just what his side needed after they had made a shaky start, with Stephen Peters (10) top-edging a catch to Chris Read off a short ball by Greg Smith in the fifth over.

Smith struck again when Anurag Singh (13) drove a catch to Usman Afzaal at cover, but Hick and Smith dug in to steady the ship and begin building a substantial lead for the home side.

Stuart MacGill was unable to repeat his bowling display in the first innings which had seen him take five wickets on his debut and his 19 overs today brought no reward for 80 runs.

Smith eventually departed after tea when he top-edged an attempted a cut shot and it dropped into the hands of Paul Johnson at third man to give his namesake his third victim. Hick, though, could not be budged and completed his century in the 52nd over when a pull shot to mid-wicket saw him scamper through for two runs. He had faced 126 balls and hit 16 boundaries during his third century of the season.

Worcestershire lost their fourth wicket soon after when Vikram Solanki inexplicably padded up to a good-length ball by Andrew Harris and was given out leg before. Hick continued to add valuable runs and crashed five more boundaries before the close, while Gareth Batty hit two fours in the final over to finish unbeaten on 11.

Earlier, Nottinghamshire had resumed on 112 for seven and were grateful to Johnson and MacGill for adding some respectability to their total. Johnson put on 34 with Greg Smith for the eighth wicket before the latter was beaten for pace by Matt Mason and was clean bowled after helping to move the total onto 137.

The arrival of MacGill at the crease saw an immediate increase in the run rate, with the Australian hitting Alamgir Sheriyar for four in the next over and later in the same over he smashed a six over mid-on. Johnson completed a deserved half-century but two wickets in the space of three balls wrapped up the innings and put Worcestershire in the driving seat.

MacGill played across the line to Mason and was bowled after a rapid 22 from 19 balls, before Andrew Harris went for a second-ball duck to give Mason career-best figures of five for 50, with Johnson left stranded on 52.

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