Broad burst leaves Worcs floundering

Stuart Broad receives high-fives for removing Worcestershire dangerman and skipper Vikram Solanki for 50 at Trent Bridge

England's Stuart Broad signalled his readiness for the upcoming npower Test series with a thrilling all-round performance as Nottinghamshire took a firm grip on their opening LV= County Championship match with Worcestershire.

The 22-year-old seamer first hit a rapid 60 as the hosts racked up 505, with skipper Chris Read making 125.

Broad then claimed three wickets in seven balls in a fiery evening spell, finishing the day with 4-35.

Broad’s spell included the key wicket of Worcestershire skipper Vikram Solanki for 50 and left the visitors reeling at 115 for four, as they eventually closed on 140 for four, still 365 behind Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire’s total was the first time they had secured maximum batting points at Trent Bridge since July 2007, with Read posting his 13th first class hundred, from 195 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.

Resuming their first innings on 334 for five, the hosts saw Graeme Swann dismissed for 26 in the 105th over, caught behind by wicketkeeper Steve Davies off a defensive edge to Matt Mason.

But Broad showed his intent by getting off the mark driving Mason through the covers on the up for four and combined with his skipper to add 104 for the seventh wicket in just 21 overs.

Broad earlier supplemented Chris Read's century with a helpful 60

Broad produced classy strokes on the off-side, while Read demonstrated his early season form with dismissive pulls and drives through the covers. He brought up three figures with an uppish drive to the third man boundary off Imran Arif.

Broad hit 11 fours at close to a run a ball before playing on to Chris Whelan just before lunch, while Read was caught hooking to the fine leg boundary. Andre Adams was stumped off Gareth Batty.

Mark Ealham and Darren Pattinson pushed the total past 500 before a mix-up saw Darren Pattinson run out, giving Nottinghamshire 19 overs before tea to attack the Worcestershire batsmen.

Broad only had to wait 10 balls before picking up his first wicket, having Stephen Moore lbw, but Solanki and Daryl Mitchell reached the interval without further alarm.

Read brought Broad back at the Radcliffe Road End and the England man produced a full swinging delivery which Solanki could only edge to Ali Brown at second slip.

Ben Smith was greeted with a bouncer into his ribs first up and then pulled the next delivery to the diving Adams at midwicket.

Moeen Ali then served up a simple return catch in Broad’s next over, and it will be up to Mitchell (52 not out) and Davies (14no) to push Worcestershire past the follow-on and avert a second defeat.