WORCESTERSHIRE gained a first innings lead of 43 but lost six wickets for 76 runs after Alex Gidman retired hurt suffering from mild concussion on the second day of the LV= County Championship match at Trent Bridge.

The visitors struck back with the wickets of Michael Lumb, Brendan Taylor and Alex Hales in the Nottinghamshire second innings. They closed on 115-3 — a lead of 72.

Worcestershire were well placed at 204-3 shortly after lunch after opener Richard Oliver had extended his overnight 52 not out to 99 before being dismissed.

But then Gidman (13) was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Ben Hilfenhaus and left the field during the following over from Samit Patel after running a three.

Tom Fell followed up his career best 142 against Middlesex at Uxbridge by making another 72 but wickets fell steadily at the other end after Gidman’s enforced absence.

Joe Clarke (0) was trapped lbw by Hilfenhaus and then Brett Hutton picked up three wickets in three overs. Ben Cox (9) was bowled after not playing a shot, Ed Barnard (4) was lbw and Fell’s innings ended when Chris Read took a fine diving catch.

Two boundaries from Joe Leach brought up the 250 in the 78th over but Hilfenhaus returned with the new ball to claim another lbw victim in Jack Shantry (9).

Yet another lbw accounted for Saeed Ajmal (7) off the bowling of Andy Carter.

Leach finished unbeaten on 24 with four boundaries as Worcestershire gained a first innings lead for the seventh time in nine first division matches this season.

It had gone smoothly before lunch for Worcestershire. Oliver added 71 in 24 overs with Fell for the third wicket.

The left-hander hit 13 fours and a six in his 173-ball knock and was within one run of his third LV= ton when he was caught by Read off Patel.

Nottinghamshire started their second innings after tea and Charlie Morris made the breakthrough when Lumb (12) perished to a fine catch by Clarke at mid-wicket after clipping the ball off his pads.

The home side were only one run in front when Barnard trapped Brendan Taylor lbw for 32.

Hales hit Leach for successive boundaries but perished to the next delivery on 24, being caught by Charlie Morris in the deep at 69-3.

Shantry bowled an accurate spell of nine overs for eight runs.