WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Daryl Mitchell completed 1,000 LV= Championship runs for the season before Leicestershire fought back strongly on the opening day at New Road.

Mitchell reached his personal milestone with the last ball before lunch during an opening stand with Richard Oliver of 163 runs.

But then wickets started to tumble at regular intervals for the remainder of the day as the home side finished on 317-9.

Mitchell is the second player to achieve the 1,000 championship runs feat this season after Hampshire's James Vince, scoring four centuries and two 90-plus scores in 2014.

It is the third time the 30-year-old has scored 1,000 or more first-class runs in a campaign.

For good measure, Oliver weighed in with a career-best 78 in his second championship appearance.

Mitchell opted to bat after winning the toss for the fifth time in six league matches at New Road this season.

Oliver was looking to build on his maiden championship half-century in his debut appearance against Glamorgan.

The former Shropshire captain was soon into his stride with a cut for four off Charlie Shreck, who shared the new ball with Nathan Buck.

The 24-year-old clipped Buck through mid-wicket to the boundary and opened the face to steer the same bowler to wide third man for four.

Mitchell cut Shreck for four and turned him through mid-wicket to the boundary as 43 came off the first 10 overs.

Spin was introduced for the first time via James Sykes and Mitchell drove him through the covers for four as the 50 came up in the 12th over.

Runs continued to flow at a fast rate and a cut for two by Oliver off the other Leicestershire spinner Jigar Naik brought up his half-century. It came off just 63 balls with seven fours out of 96-0.

Mitchell cut Naik for two to bring up the 100 stand in just 24 overs. He was greeted with warm applause from the crowd when bringing up his 1,000th run.

Oliver had reached a personal best of 78 from 94 balls with 12 fours when he was trapped lbw by Sykes.

Mitchell passed 8,000 first-class runs in his career and went on to 90 before he attempted to cut a delivery from Dan Redfern and was caught behind.

Four overthrows brought up the 200 but then Tom Fell, who made his maiden championship century at Grace Road last month, shouldered arms to Buck and was bowled for 18 by a delivery which came back sharply.

Buck struck again in his next over when Alexei Kervezee (12) was caught behind.

He made it three wickets in three overs when wicketkeeper Ben Cox was bowled between bat and pad with the total on 206.

Redfern picked up his second wicket when Joe Leach (7) was bowled by a delivery which kept low.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore reeled off a series of impressive drives in making 41 before he was adjudged lbw to Sykes, who then had Jack Shantry (0) caught at first slip by Naik.

But the recalled Shaaiq Choudhry and Saeed Ajmal lifted the score past 300 and secured three batting points before the latter was caught behind off Charlie Shreck for 20.