Alex Gidman scored his first half century for new county Worcestershire on the second day of the LV = County Championship match with Somerset at sunny New Road.
The former Gloucestershire batsman went to his fifty off 104 balls with seven fours.
He received a rousing reception from his team-mates on the dressing room balcony and was largely responsible for Worcestershire reaching 133-4 off 49 overs by lunch.
Worcestershire resumed on 35-2 after 18 overs in reply to Somerset's all out total of 250.
Skipper Daryl Mitchell was trapped lbw by a delivery that kept low from Alfonso Thomas for 27 in the third over of the day after nine runs had been added.
Alex Gidman looked in good form and collected a boundary with a backfoot cover drive off Lewis Gregory who is part of the England squad for the ODI with Ireland on Friday.
Alexei Kervezee, fresh from his fine 93 against Sussex at Hove, brought the 50 up with a four through mid wicket off Gregory.
The Dutch international then drilled Craig Overton through the covers for four and clipped him off his legs for three in the same over.
Gidman, the third highest scorer in Division Two last season with 1,277 runs, moved into the 30s with a cut for four off Gregory off whom he collected a series of boundaries.
The 50 stand between Gidman and Kervezee came up in 14 overs.
It was Peter Trego who broke the partnership after it had added 59 when he yorked Kervezee for 29 with Worcestershire 103-4.
Gidman's first half century since his move up the M5 was completed with a two off Jim Allenby out of 117-4 in the 43rd over.
It came off 104 balls and contained seven boundaries.
