WORCESTERSHIRE called up spinner Shaftab Khalid for their Frizzell County Championship Division One relegation battle against Lancashire which opened at sun-soaked New Road today.

He took over from paceman Nadeem Malik who played in the County's previous game which ended in a home draw with champions Warwickshire.

Lancashire, 17 points behind third-from-bottom Worcestershire with a game in hand, won the toss and decided to bat.

Mark Chilton and Iain Sutcliffe launched their innings against the pace attack of Matt Mason and Andy Bichel.

Worcs: Peters, Moore, Hick, Smith, Kadeer Ali, Bichel, Hall, Rhodes, Price, Mason, Shaftab Khalid.

Lancs: Chilton, Sutcliffe, Loye, Law, Hooper, Hegg, Crook, Chapple, Cork, Keedy, Mahmood.

n Worcestershire's bowlers came in for a hammering on the opening day of the Second XI Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

After winning the toss, the hosts piled up 450-7 declared off 94 overs with Tim Rees hitting 103 which included 18 fours off 120 balls. The County's most productive bowler was spinner Paul Carter who took 3-111 off 25 overs.

At the close last night their reply stood at 41-0.