Alex Gidman responded to being cast in the role of stand-in Worcestershire captain by top-scoring in the first innings of the LV = County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire at New Road.
Gidman made his first senior appearance since suffering concussion in the corresponding match between the sides at Trent Bridge in late June.
He took over as temporary skipper from Daryl Mitchell who suffered a hamstring injury in the Royal London One-Day Cup encounter with Surrey at the Kia Oval on Tuesday.
The former Gloucestershire player made an excellent 71 from 126 balls with 11 fours before he was adjudged to have been caught behind by Chris Read off spinner Imran Tahir.
Ben Cox also scored a fine half century although when Notts eventually batted he left the field after 13 overs accompanied by physio Ben Davies and was replaced behind the stumps by Joe Clarke.
There were also useful contributions from Tom Fell and Ross Whiteley as Worcestershire were dismissed for 269 in 68.1 overs.
Nottinghamshire replied with 71-0 from 20 overs when play was halted for bad light with five overs remaining
Gidman opted to bat after winning the toss and opener Richard Oliver (4) edged Brett Hutton through to Read in the second over of the innings.
Brett D'Oliveira (18), opening the innings in place of Mitchell, added 48 in 11 overs with Tom Fell before he was trapped lbw by Harry Gurney for 18.
Clarke had scored a superb century in the RLC clash against Gloucestershire but today was adjudged lbw to Hutton for nought.
Fell looked in good nick but after making 44 he aimed a drive at Jake Ball and gave Read his second catch of the innings.
Gidman and Ross Whiteley then featured in the most productive stand of the innings as they added 85 in 25 overs.
Gidman completed his half century off 89 balls with eight fours.
Ball broke the stand when Whiteley (34) was undone by a ball of extra bounce and Hutton held onto the chance at third slip at 160-5.
Gidman was joined by Cox and they took the total to 206 before the former was given out.
The innings was wrapped up either side of tea with the last four wickets falling in the space of six overs.
Joe Leach (13) was on the receiving end of a fine catch by Brendan Taylor at mid on off Hutton and in the next over Tahir accounted for Jack Shantry, leg before for four.
Cox went to an excellent half century – his fourth 50 plus score in the Championship this summer – but on 56 Steven Mullaney pulled off a fine catch at slip from a Gurney delivery.
The innings ended when Saeed Ajmal (7) chopped Gurney onto the stumps.
