STEPHEN Moore enhanced his blossoming reputation with a quick-fire half-century today in the New Road tour match with Australia.

But Worcestershire endured a difficult start with the bat after losing three wickets in the first hour's play.

Stephen Peters, Graeme Hick and Ben Smith perished to the pace of opening pair Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait as the County reached 101-3 from 24 overs on the final day.

Australia declared on their overnight score of 406-9 and made an early breakthrough when Peters, recalled to the senior side after an improving run of form in the second XI, fell for a duck.

He was trapped lbw at the beginning of the fourth over to a full-length delivery from Tait.

Hick fired a quartet of boundaries but departed on 21, his misjudged cut shot off Gillespie finding Brad Haddin's gloves at the second attempt.

Gillespie claimed his second victim when Smith middled a cut shot to Brad Hodge, who took an astounding diving catch with Worcestershire on 48.

England hopeful Moore remained unbeaten on 60 but survived a scare on six when he edged Tait between Haddin and Ricky Ponting at first slip. He was joined at the crease by Vikram Solanki.

A swashbuckling 94 from reserve wicket-keeper Haddin and an unbeaten 53 from Jason Gillespie spared the Aussies' blushes yesterday.

But the County had the tourists tottering at 227-6 after tea in the three-day match, as improving young seamer Nadeem Malik enjoyed one of his best days for the club.

Malik took the scalps of Michael Clarke, Hodge and Haddin to claim 3-78, while Matt Mason and Ray Price weighed in with two wickets apiece.

County head coach Steve Rhodes said: "It could have been better for us, though. At 227-6, if we had managed to get rid of Gillespie early, then we would have been into Michael Kasprowicz and the rest. It was very delicately balanced at that stage and we could have bowled them out quite cheaply.

"Nadeem will treasure those wickets. He's coming on in leaps and bounds this year and some of the Aussie batsmen were quite impressed with the way he bowled. He'll take much confidence out of that into games later in the year for us."

Openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden gave Australia the perfect platform to build their commanding innings. The left-handers settled in to their stride and posted half-centuries in the same over before lunch.

Hayden's 50 off 71 deliveries came at a faster rate than Langer, but an opening stand of 110 ended when Australian Mason induced an edge from Langer and wicket-keeper James Pipe took a stunning low catch to his right.

Mason stormed in to dismiss another fellow countryman, Hayden's knock of 74 ending with a leading edge to Peters at cover.

Australia's middle order struggled to follow the leading pair as Worcestershire took the initiative with four wickets for 78 runs.

Malik trapped Michael Clarke lbw for nine and Simon Katich was bowled for 14 attempting to squirt slow left-armer Price into the mid-on region.

Hodge, awaiting his Test debut, fired a lusty 38 before attempting a lofted cut shot that Smith gobbled up in style. Then skipper Ponting nicked Kabir Ali to Hick at second slip for 20.

It was left to Haddin to lead the Aussie fightback and he put the game beyond the County courtesy of a 123-run stand with dogged Gillespie.

Haddin's 95-ball stay at the crease, including 16 fours and a six, ended with a top edged pull to Moore.