GRAEME Hick stroked the 114th first-class century of his career on an eventful opening day to Worcestershire's County Championship Division Two match against Nottinghamshire at New Road.

The County skipper hit 123 in his side's 248 while Kevin Pietersen responded with an unbeaten 103 as Notts were all out for 160 just before the close.

The duo were head and shoulders above the rest of the batsmen on a wicket which became the subject of an automatic report to Lord's.

For Hick it was another impressive ton to add to the list which puts him on the same number as the legendary Viv Richards.

It was also his second century in successive Championship innings following the 124 he plundered off Warwickshire at New Road two weeks ago.

This time it was the Notts bowlers' turn to suffer as he peppered the boundary.

By the time he was out he had had piled up two sixes and 20 fours off 151 balls. His reign ended when he was caught at deep cover by Paul Johnson off paceman Richard Logan who finished with 5-96.

It was Hick's fourth first-class century against Notts and began after opener Philip Weston had fallen for five.

He signalled his intention in a boundary-laced 11-over stand with Anurag Singh which yielded 60, but once Singh had departed for 17 the procession of wickets began to speed up dramatically.

Vikram Solanki had his off and middle stumps knocked out by paceman David Lucas before David Leatherdale, Nick Boulton and Andy Bichel all fell before lunch when Hick was still there on 75.

James Pipe was soon removed after the interval before Hick survived a difficult chance to a diving Andrew Harris at deep cover off Logan while on 82.

The let-off enabled him to complete a 45-run stand in nine overs with Stuart Lampitt who was caught in the slips by Usman Afzaal off Lucas for 24.

Any thoughts of the wicket-taking action slowing up rapidly evaporated when Notts crashed to 51-7, four of the wickets falling to Aussie pace ace Bichel.

The slide, however, was halted in tremendous style by Pietersen and Lucas who put on 92 priceless runs in 18 overs.

Lucas was out for 21 and by the time Notts were all out in 42.4 overs Pietersen had 20 fours off 92 balls to his credit. Bichel finished with figures of 5-45.