Stephen Moore and Daryl Mitchell blunted a Glamorgan gamble and gave Worcestershire a good start in the Division Two fixture at New Road.

The Welshmen's decision to bowl first on winning the toss backfired as the openers put on 109 and laid the foundation for a score of 307-4.

After failing to capture a batting bonus point in three of the previous four games, the hosts performed well.

Mitchell reached the boundary rope 13 times to top-score with 78.

It took Glamorgan until the 10th over after lunch to claim a wicket when Moore (57) surprisingly pulled a short ball from Alex Wharf to Gareth Rees at deep square leg.

Mitchell maintained his unflustered approach to make his highest Championship score at New Road - but then nibbled a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

David Harrison took that wicket and should have had another when Michael Powell dropped a chance from Vikam Solanki at second slip. The home captain was on 32 at the time and went on to make 69 from 94 balls.

The injured Robert Croft missed a Championship game for the first time since September 2001, and Glamorgan seemed to suffer for his absence.

Solanki drove Jamie Dalrymple onto the New Road balcony for a straight six but an attempt to charge Dean Cosker resulted in stumping by Wallace.

Ben Smith put on 88 with Solanki and saw Worcestershire overcome the loss of Graeme Hick for five - caught at slip off James Harris - by completing a set of fifties for the top four in the order.

At the close he was 58 not out in an unbroken stand of 55 with Steven Davies (32 not out).

Worcestershire gave a debut to Pakistan-born seamer Imran Arif on an overseas registration. A 24-year-old fast-medium bowler, he has been a top performer in the Bradford League Division One.