Hick helped rescue Worcestershire after a poor start with the bat

Sixteen wickets fell on a remarkable first day of cricket between Northants and Worcestershire at New Road.

The home side were dismissed for 146, losing their final seven wickets for just 43 runs after an 81-run stand between Graeme Hick and Stephen Moore.

Seamers David Lucas and David Wigley picked up four wickets each, with Johan van der Wath collecting two.

Robert White (58) gave Northants a good start, but Kabir Ali (3-44) restricted the visitors to 134-6 at stumps.

However, the day belonged to Northants' pace attack as Worcestershire's batting line-up imploded in just 42.3 overs after they were put in to bat.

Seamer Wigley, recalled early from a loan spell at Gloucestershire, recorded his Championship-best figures of 4-43, while Lucas claimed 4-49.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the opening day's play at New Road

Moore (42) and Hick (46) helped rescue the innings with a patient partnership, taking the home side past the 100 mark during their third-wicket partnership.

But Hick's stay ended soon after when he edged Wigley to Niall O'Brien for one of his five catches at 103-4.

And when Moore fell eight runs later, it didn't take long for Northants to wrap up the innings.

O'Brien (20) became Ali's first victim before White and Riki Wessels added 68 in 12 overs to give Northants a solid platform to build a sizeable first innings lead.

But their stand ended when spinner Batty dismissed White, who had hit two sixes and seven fours in 59 balls.

Matt Mason - making his first appearance of the summer - chipped in with two wickets before Ali accounted for Andrew Hall and Lucas before the end of a remarkable first day's play.