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Northants v Worcestershire: Hosts on top after rain-shortened day one

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Nathan BuckImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Nathan Buck removed both Worcestershire openers

Bob Willis Trophy, County Ground, Northampton (day one):

Worcestershire 93-5: Haynes 38; Buck 3-31

Northants: Yet to bat

Northants 1 pt, Worcs 0 pts

Nathan Buck put Northamptonshire on top with three wickets as Worcestershire were reduced to 93-5 on a rain-shortened first day of their Bob Willis Trophy match.

Buck returned to the home team's bowling line-up as one of five changes with their rotation policy continuing and he grasped a rare opportunity to lead the attack.

He struck twice in his opening spell after Worcestershire contested the toss, although the visitors were given what they wanted when Adam Rossington chose to field.

Buck produced deliveries that held their line from around off stump to have Jake Libby well held by Alex Wakely at second slip for a seven-ball duck before Daryl Mitchell, on seven, was squared up and caught by Gareth Berg.

Tom Fell also fell in the opening session, lazily clipping Blessing Muzarabani to Ben Curran at square leg.

Buck returned after lunch to break a developing partnership of 41 between Jack Haynes and Brett D'Oliveira 12 balls into the afternoon.

Haynes, on 38, was a little tentative to play forward and lost his off stump. But, until then, the 19-year-old - playing just his eighth first-class match - had settled well with five boundaries.

His departure was swiftly compounded by his partner D'Oliveira also falling with the score on 84. Having smartly on-driven Buck in reaching 24, he hooked Berg and top-edged a catch to Curran at square leg.

Muzarabani was among the five changes by made Northamptonshire from the side beaten by Somerset with Wakely and Richard Levi playing their first games of the season.

Worcestershire swapped Josh Tongue for Charlie Morris from their XI who drew with Glamorgan.

Worcestershire opener Daryl Mitchell:

"It seamed quite considerably and bounced as well and we did extremely well to get through to lunch only three down.

"Those two wickets after lunch hurt us a bit but it's a well balanced game. They bowled very well with the new ball and made it difficult to score.

"The ball didn't really come on, a few were hitting quite high on the bat, so it was difficult to get the ball away too."

Report supplied by PA Media.