WORCESTERSHIRE stuck to their guns with the ball on day one of the tour match with Pakistan at New Road.

The tourists, put into bat, reached 260-3 declared from 80 overs with wickets for Ed Barnard, Alex Hepburn and Alexei Kervezee.

Barnard posed problems in three spells and there were encouraging signs from new-ball partner Charlie Morris, while spinner George Rhodes enjoyed a lengthy spell of bowling.

Openers Daryl Mitchell and Tom Fell safely negotiated 11 overs as the County reached 30-0 by the close with both unbeaten on 14.

The County rested vice-captain Joe Leach and wicketkeeper Ben Cox, who have both played every match this season, plus all-rounder Brett D'Oliveira.

Joe Clarke, back from a slight side strain, took over behind the stumps.

Barnard and Morris bowled tight probing spells to openers Sami Aslam and Shan Masood.

Hepburn and Jack Shantry continued in the same vein and it was 14 overs before the first boundary via a lofted drive from Aslam off the latter.

Hepburn (1-49) made the first breakthrough when Aslam (17) nicked a delivery to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip.

Masood started to flourish with two lofted cover drives for four off Rhodes and he pulled Barnard to the ropes on his return.

He went to his half-century off 124 balls with five fours.

Azhar Ali, on 33, had a slice of fortune with a bottom edge off Hepburn that flew for four past slip and Masood swept Rhodes just past Morris backward of square.

But the pair otherwise played fine strokes and Azhar brought up his fifty off 103 deliveries with seven fours.

Kervezee (1-38) ended a stand of 124 in 37 overs when Masood (67) went down the wicket and edged through to Clarke.

Iftikhar Ahmed got off the mark with a straight six off Rhodes.

Azhar moved on to 81 before Barnard (1-30) gained reward for his efforts by bowling him with a fine delivery that hit the top of off-stump.

Iftikhar (41 not out) and Muhammad Rizwan (49no) added 80 in 19.5 overs before the declaration.