CAPTAIN Brett D’Oliveira struck his fourth successive half-century since returning from a shoulder injury to inspire a Worcestershire recovery on day one of the Vitality County Championship match at home to Warwickshire.

D’Oliveira came to the wicket with his side struggling at 67 for four in testing conditions and was the cornerstone of a fightback by top-scoring with 76 in the hosts’ 294 for eight.

D’Oliveira received excellent support from Adam Hose, fit-again Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek in partnerships of 49, 76 and 43.

Waite also made his mark with a fluent 53 on his return to action after nearly two months on the sidelines with a side strain.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the leading wicket-taker in Division One, added three more scalps to take his tally for the season to 46.

He made the first breakthrough when Jake Libby pushed forward to a delivery which nipped away and was caught behind.

Kashif Ali provided wicket-keeper Michael Burgess with another catch off Ed Barnard.

Gareth Roderick had his middle stump knocked back by Michael Rae and then Ethan Brookes was lbw to Hannon-Dalby on his return to the attack with a delivery which swung back in.

Hose and D’Oliveira battled through to lunch at 77 for four before Hose, having battled for nearly two hours for 33, drove Barnard to second slip.

Waite was full of positive intent from the start and collected four boundaries at Barnard’s expense in two overs.

He was the dominate figure in a half-century partnership with D’Oliveira and completed his own fifty from 71 balls with nine fours before falling lbw to Rae.

D’Oliveira reached his half-century from 115 balls and found another staunch ally in Van Beek before he was finally caught low down at first slip by Rob Yates off Will Rhodes.

Hannon-Dalby removed Van Beek to claim his third scalp, but Jack Home and Tom Taylor put on an unbroken stand of 52.