Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire began their outdoor preparations with a 50 overs per side friendly at chilly Trent Bridge.

The visitors elected to bat first and made a competitive 233/6 from their 50 overs. Openers Anurag Singh and Paul Pollard put on 71 for the first wicket and the impetus was maintained when Graeme Hick came to the crease at the fall of Pollard's wicket.

The Worcestershire skipper made a quick-fire 38 but then retired allowing others to gain much-needed batting practice. Singh, on his debut after a winter move from Warwickshire, passed his half century but was then drawn out of his ground by the off-spin of Pietersen and Chris Read took a smart stumping.

On a true, even-paced wicket, Vikram Solanki and David Leatherdale added 76 before Richard Logan had Leatherdale caught behind.

Phillip Weston and Stephen Rhodes fell cheaply but Solanki remained until the end, finishing unbeaten on 55 as the innings closed on 233-6.

In reply Notts soon lost Darren Bicknell, skippering the side in place of the injured Jason Gallian. Guy Welton made 41 but then both he and Chris Hewison were given out lbw by umpire Tim Robinson, the former Notts and England opener.

Worse was to follow when a mix-up left both Usman Afzaal and Kevin Pietersen at the same end allowing bowler Matthew Rawnsley the opportunity to shy accurately at the far end – Afzaal the batsman to be sacrificed.

Chris Read helped take the total beyond three figures but then perished trying to pull David Leatherdale. At 110-5 Notts' victory chances looked remote but Pietersen and Paul Franks put together a solid, if unspectacular, stand of 63 to revive home hopes.

Franks reached 37 before playing around a well-flighted delivery from Rawnsley but then Paul Johnson, batting at No 8 due to a calf injury picked up while fielding, quickly set about the bowling to leave a target of 50 from the final ten overs.

On his first appearance at Trent Bridge 20-year-old Pietersen raced past 50 with three consecutive boundaries before holing out to long–on for 58.

Although Johnson, with limited mobility, skied a catch to Hick, Notts were eased to victory by a composed partnership between Gareth Clough and Richard Logan. The winning runs being hit from the final ball of the 49th over.

Worcs – 233-6 (50 overs) Solanki 55 not out, Singh 54, Leatherdale 39, Hick 38 ret Franks 1-36, Smith 1-37

Notts 237-8 (49 overs) Pietersen 58, Welton 41, Franks 37 Leatherdale 3-37, Liptrot 2-55

© CricInfo Ltd.