WORCESTERSHIRE were on the receiving end of a record-breaking Nottinghamshire win in the County Championship Division Two match at New Road today.

Notts, needing 458 to clinch victory, closed last night on 367-2 after a century from Darren Bicknell, while Greg Blewett, on 99 overnight, completed his ton after adding 145 in 45 overs with Usman Afzaal who was dismissed by Alamgir Sheriyar for 88.

It was their highest fourth innings total to win a match in more than a century of Championship cricket.

Any fears Notts may have had about facing such a bumper target were quickly calmed by openers Bicknell and John Morris who put on 157 in 35 overs. Both batsmen were in commanding form on a flat wicket against some undisciplined Worcestershire bowling.

They often found the boundary with ease before the partnership was broken when Morris was caught at the second attempt by a tumbling Stuart Lampitt at short extra-cover off paceman Andy Bichel.

Morris' 94 contained 18 fours off 106 balls, but his dismissal failed to lift the County attack who were then subjected to another Notts' century partnership, this time between Bicknell and Blewett, who put on 102 in 29 overs.

Their stand ended when Bicknell, playing back to a Lampitt delivery, edged a routine catch to wicketkeeper James Pipe.

Bicknell's ton, which contained 16 fours off 203 balls, meant it was the first time in the history of the fixture that a century has been scored in all four innings, the others coming from Worcestershire's Graeme Hick and Phil Weston and Notts' Kevin Pietersen.

Bicknell's removal, however, provided little respite for the New Road bowlers who were then forced to endure another hundred partnership by Notts when Afzaal joined Blewett.

At the close last night they had put on an undefeated 108 in 35 overs with Blewett having 12 fours off 179 balls to his credit. Afzaal was unbeaten on 63 including 12 fours off 107 deliveries.

Yesterday began with the County resuming 444 ahead on 356-8 with Weston unbeaten on 185. He added a further seven runs before being lbw by paceman Andrew Harris for 192 which included 31 fours off 309 balls.

He said: "There were some bad shots on the first day, but it's now a different wicket. Once it flattens out and gets drier, the only assistance it gives is to the spinners and we're without Matthew Rawnsley."

Harris made it two wickets in five balls by ousting Chris Liptrot for 11 to end the innings on 369.