Worcestershire claimed three wickets in the space of five overs after being unable to make a pre-lunch breakthrough on day one of the Specsavers County Championship match with Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.
Charlie Morris, in what is his first senior appearance of the season, broke an opening stand of 141 between Paul Horton and Angus Robson by removing the latter for 50.
Then New Zealand paceman Matt Henry accounted for Horton (89) and Mark Cosgrove (4) to leave Leicestershire on 157-3.
But an unbroken stand of 41 between Neil Dexter (27) and Mark Pettini (23) steered the home side to 198-3 off 64 overs by tea.
The toss was uncontested with Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell taking up the option to bowl first on a pitch which had a greenish tinge.
But Horton and Robson steered Leicestershire to 107-0 off 31 overs by the interval.
Horton was unbeaten on 74 and Robson 31 as Mitchell used five bowlers during the morning session.
The ball swung but there was little movement off the seam for his bowlers.
Horton reeled off a series of cover drives and went to his 50 off just 59 balls with eight boundaries..
The former Lancashire captain could have been dismissed on 54 when he edged an attempted drive at Charlie Morris but Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip did not hold onto the low chance to his left.
Morris replaced Ed Barnard in the only change to the County side from the drawn home encounter with Sussex.
After lunch, Horton another life on 80 with Kohler-Cadmore again the culprit off the bowling of Joe Leach.
Robson went to his 50 off 109 balls with seven fours but he did not add to his tally before edging a delivery from Morris – and keeper Ben Cox took a fine diving catch away to his right.
In the next over Henry picked up his first over by trapping Horton lbw for 89 made off 131 balls with 16 fours.
Cosgrove departed in the same manner to Henry after making four.
