Worcestershire batting hero Tom Fell admitted he was too nervous to eat during the tea interval before completing a superb century on the opening day of the LV = County Championship clash with champions Yorkshire at New Road.
Fell sat through the 20 minute break just one run short of competing a third Championship hundred of his career after his score was amended from 98 not out to 99 not out.
But he needed only two deliveries after the resumption to move to three figures with a four off his legs against Ryan Sidebottom.
The 21-year-old batted for nearly four hours and hit 14 fours in his 196 ball innings before being caught behind down the legside off Tim Bresnan for 114.
He came in at 11-2 and shared in a stand of 118 with Moeen Ali (62) for the third wicket before Gareth Andrew's unbeaten 42 lifted the final total to 264-8 from 82 overs until bad light halted play.
Felt said: "It felt really good. I came in at quite a difficult situation this morning. They bowled really well upfront. It was really nice to get the first one out of the way for the season.
"It wasn't necessarily doing a lot off the wicket, just more the areas they bowled. There was a little bit of swing. Jack Brooks and Ryan Sidebottom started really well and gave us nothing.
"They got their rewards early on but luckily myself and Mo managed to stick about a bit and get through those tough periods and luckily it got a little bit easier as we went along.
"Early on there was always a ball that could have your name on it. A few of the lads got some decent deliveries.
"It was one of those wickets where you do have to grind early on and if you do get yourself in it becomes a lot easier."
Fell added: "That was probably one of the best attacks in the league and that makes it (the 100) a little bit more special, playing against the 2014 champions.
"I knew I was on 99 at tea and, at that stage of your innings, you want every run you can get.
"I can tell you I did have some nerves. Going into tea and thinking about it, you just want to get out there and get it over with.
"I couldn't eat over tea. I was too nervous to eat.
"I was fortunate I got a nice ball on the legs second ball after tea which kind of got rid of the nerves a bit."
Fell is hoping Andrew and the remaining batsman can push the score up to the 300 mark when play resumes tomorrow.
He said: "That is going to be the target. If we do get to 300 first up we've got a pretty good chance of not losing the game certainly.
"There is still some work to do tomorrow. Obviously Gaz (Andrew) is playing really well at the moment and hopefully he can carry on.
"We do bat a long way down with Gaz at eight and Shants (Jack Shantry) at nine. That is something that is really important I think.
"Just having those runs lower down the order takes the pressure off the top order. We've got a lot of faith in them to get us over that 300 mark tomorrow."
