John Hastings sent down 11 overs and picked up two wickets in his first match bowl for Worcestershire on the opening day of the three-day clash against Leeds-Bradford MCCU at Weetwood.
Then Tom Fell and Brett D'Oliveira hit half centuries as Worcestershire closed on 156-2 from 35 overs after bowling out the students for 162 in 58.2 overs.
Australian all-rounder Hastings' first action in the middle with the ball for four months since needing patella tendon surgery was split into two spells.
His opening burst as second change bowler brought him the wicket of Steve Bullen – caught at second slip by skipper Daryl Mitchell – and figures of 6-4-8-1.
Hastings returned for a second stint after lunch and this time accounted for Craig Wallace, caught behind by keeper Ben Cox.
The 31-year-old finished with figures of 11-4-26-2 as Leeds-Bradford were bowled out for 162 in 58.2 overs after being put into bat.
The County were able to select five seamers even with the exclusion of Ed Barnard and they kept a tight grip on proceedings in what is a non first class fixture.
Wickets fell at regular intervals after Josh Tongue had yorked Ben Shoare for one in the second over of the day.
The students reached lunch on 85-3 but were quickly reduced to 113-7 in an eight over spell in the afternoon.
Jack Shantry followed up his good performance against Gloucestershire at RGS Worcester by finishing with 3-36 and there was also two wickets for fit again Josh Tongue (2-22).
Charlie Morris (1-42) and Brett D'Oliveira (1-0) were the other wicket-takers.
When Worcestershire launched their reply, opener Daryl Mitchell was dismissed for seven with 20 on the board.
But D'Oliveira and Fell settled down to get in valuable time in the middle.
Fell was first to his half century off 72 balls with his seventh boundary out of 110-1.
He was eventually caught behind for 64 – from 92 deliveries with nine fours – after adding 118 in 24.4 overs with D'Oliveira.
By the close D'Oliveira was unbeaten on 61 from 94 balls with nine boundaries.
