Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes was "delighted with the day" after his side put themselves into a strong position by the close of day one against Nottinghamshire in the LV = County Championship match at Trent Bridge.
The home side were put in and bowled out for 240, with Charlie Morris (3-70) claiming his 100th first class wicket as part of a disciplined bowling performance by the four-pronged attack of Joe Leach, Jack Shantry and Ed Barnard.
Then an unbeaten half century from Richard Oliver, who shared in an opening stand of 87 with skipper Daryl Mitchell, helped Worcestershire to 89-2 by the close.
Rhodes told BBC Hereford-Worcester's Dave Bradley: "Delighted with the day really. Notts got off to a really good start, 74 before the first wicket fell and when you are put into bat that's a really good platform.
"So to bowl them out for 240, and that included a last wicket stand (of 50), I thought that was a really good effort.
"We wanted to be 90-2 at the close, that is what we set the target at, and we ended up 89-2 so we are also quite pleased with that finish to the day as well.
"I thought we bowled really well in the morning and were a bit unlucky not to pick up four wickets. We did drop a catch and that goes against you and you don't seem to get the luck of the bounce or Mother Cricket doesn't look after you.
"But I thought we bowled well, went past the bat a lot.
"I thought Barny (Barnard) was outstanding. That lad is only 19 and for him to bowl with such control and movement as well. He is a bright prospect for the future and he is not just a bowler.
"He can bat, he has got a good head on his shoulders, is a good fielder, and also has the one-day skills so he is very much one for our future as he has shown today."
Oliver hit his first 50 since his 100 against Sussex at Hove and Rhodes said: "It was a fighting knock. The wicket is a bit two tone, a bit green and a bit brown, and that means the ball comes off at slightly varying paces.
"That means it is not always easy to time the ball, and I think Rich found it quite awkward to time the ball, but in gutsy fashion he has managed to get to 50 not out.
"I think the sun is going to bake the wicket, the green tinges will disappear, tomorrow is a really hot day, and by the end of tomorrow you will probably see quite a brown wicket.
"We fought hard, it was a shame to lose Mitch, the way he got out as well, but we had better not say anything about the dismissals in that sense."
