Worcestershire recovered from the early loss of skipper Daryl Mitchell to reach 64-2 by lunch from 19 overs on a truncated opening morning against Durham at New Road.
Early morning rain meant play was not able to get underway until 11.45am and Worcestershire were put into bat in the LV = County Championship Division One fixture.
Mitchell (0) departed to the second delivery of the morning when he was bowled by Chris Rushworth who claimed his 30th wicket of the season.
Richard Oliver and Tom Fell took advantage of occasional lapses in length by Rushworth who conceded several boundaries in his opening spell.
Both batsmen claimed three fours before Oliver was fortunate with an edge which also found the shorter boundary on the pavilion side of the ground.
Four byes off Graham Onions brought up the Worcestershire 50 in the 15th over.
Oliver collected two boundaries at Onions expense but in the same over was bowled attempting to drive off his legs for 36 made off 47 balls with six fours.
His stand with Fell realised 64 in 16 overs.
Fell was unbeaten on 23 at lunch with Alex Gidman yet to get off the mark.
Worcestershire made one change from the last Championship match against Warwickshire with Ross Whiteley replacing Moeen Ali who is back on England duty.
After the resumption Fell and Gidman added 24 before the latter was lbw to Rushworth for 12 with Worcestershire 88-3.
