WARWICKSHIRE moved to the top of the Frizzell County Championship First Division as they thrashed local rivals Worcestershire by nine wickets at Edgbaston.

Skipper Nick Knight and Mark Wagh made light of a potentially tricky target of 160 with an opening stand of 152.

Knight dominated the initial stages of the partnership, reaching his half-century out of 61 off just 62 balls with nine fours, before being bowled by a Stephen Moore delivery which kept low for 83.

But Wagh gradually accelerated and he hoisted Moore over long-on to bring up his 50 off 94 balls as he and Ian Bell completed the task.

Worcestershire were left to reflect on a third league defeat of the campaign -- the others were also away from New Road against Kent and Lancashire -- and they are taking time to adjust to their first taste of the top flight.

In all three games they have been in strong positions at various junctures but their bowling at Canterbury and Edgbaston and batting at Lancashire let them down at crucial stages.

On this occasion there can seldom have been a more undisciplined performance by the County than in the Warwickshire first innings in conceding 405 runs from only 74.1 overs in such bowler-friendly conditions.

Only Matt Mason of the pace quartet emerged with much credit for Worcestershire as the potentially match-winning advantage created by Graeme Hick''s superb 178 was thrown away.

Worcestershire resumed on 70-2 and were bowled out for 185 in just 45 overs with debutant Naqaash Tahir taking a further four wickets to earn him match figures of 8-90 on his championship debut.

Worcestershire skipper Ben Smith battled gamely for 41 but was trapped lbw by Carter when trying to work the ball to leg.

The County needed quick wickets if they were to put Warwickshire under pressure but the tone was set for the match-winning innings when Knight picked up 14 runs in the single pre-lunch over from Andy Bichel.