NOTTINGHAMSHIRE piled on the misery for bottom-placed Worcestershire as they triumphed by an innings and 41 runs in the County Championship Division One battle of the two promoted sides at Blackfinch New Road.

Worcestershire had overhauled their opponents in the finishing straight last summer with four successive victories to lift the Division Two crown including an emphatic eight-wicket victory at Trent Bridge.

But revenge was sweet for the visitors who outplayed their opponents in all departments and bowled them out twice in 64.5 overs.

Luke Fletcher did the damage in the first innings with a career-best 5-27 and then Jake Ball was the County's main tormentor with 5-59.

There was optimism inside the camp that the County could compete fiercely this season in the top flight with a squad still young in years but with considerable first-team experience.

But after showing encouraging signs at stages of the defeats at Hampshire and Somerset they were blown away by a formidable pace attack strengthened by the availability of Stuart Broad.

The County will need to improve dramatically in all departments to have any chance of ending their yo-yo existence between the two divisions.

Although the wicket was seamer-friendly, it was no excuse for poor shot execution from several batsmen.

Notts, who chalked up a second victory in three matches, resumed on 204-6 and added 96 off 13.5 overs to secure three batting points before declaring on 300-9 for a lead of 190.

The County were left 80 overs to survive for a draw but never looked like achieving that objective.

Notts' overnight pairing of Tom Moores and Broad extended their partnership to 59 in eight overs with a succession of boundaries.

Josh Tongue steered the hosts towards maximum bowling points by having Moores (43) caught behind and Ball (0) lbw.

Broad raced onto 38 before top-edging a pull at spinner Travis Head and skying a simple catch to keeper Ben Cox.

Tongue ended with 4-81 and skipper Joe Leach 3-73.

Ball took the new ball, having Brett D’Oliveira caught at third slip for a golden duck and then bowling Daryl Mitchell (3) with a delivery of full length.

Broad got in on the act as Joe Clarke (4) was caught behind and then Head (29) played down the wrong line to be lbw for Ball’s third victim.

The procession of wickets continued as Fletcher accounted for George Rhodes (8) who edged through to keeper Moores and then Cox (11) as he lobbed the ball up to point.

Top scorer Tom Fell (37) was then bowled by Harry Gurney.

The end came quickly as Ball completed his five-for by dismissing Leach (6) and Ed Barnard (12), providing Moores with two more catches, before Gurney bowled Tongue (21) on the stroke of tea.

Worcestershire head coach Kevin Sharp said: “It’s been a challenging three weeks.

"We’ve not been at our best, we know that.

"We’ve challenged at times, particularly in the first two games but not really in this one and that is disappointing.

“We’ve just had a good chat, a good half-hour, about where we can improve. They are a great set of lads. They practice hard, work hard and prepare in the best possible way.

“We’ve certainly been under-par, particularly with the bat. We know it and we have to get better.

“We know there are some really top sides to play against and Division One sides are more experienced and there is strength in depth.

“But there lies the challenges and that is what these lads want to do and if we didn’t know before we certainly do now in terms of what is expected.”