WORCESTERSHIRE Seconds suffered a last over three-wicket defeat to Warwickshire Seconds in their opening Championship match of the season at RGS Worcester.

The Bears were set a target of 291 in 66 overs and triumphed with three balls to spare as Worcestershire collected five points from the three-day encounter.

Worcestershire Seconds resumed on 16-0 after the visitors had declared 94 behind yesterday evening.

Ollie Westbury (9) did not add to his overnight score before he was caught at third slip off Mitchell Spencer.

Alexei Kervezee made 26 before he became Spencer's second victim - caught at mid wicket at 58-2.

George Rhodes and Alex Hepburn played sensibly and correctly until the 20 over mark when the score stood on 74-2 but then Warwickshire fed them some friendly bowling to bring about a declaration.

One hundred and twenty two runs came from the next 16 overs before the Seconds pulled out at 196-2.

Rhodes, who top-scored in the first innings with 77, finished unbeaten on 76 from 101 balls with eight fours and Hepburn hit 74 not out from 63 balls with three sixes and nine fours.

Warwickshire openers, skipper Andy Umeed and Liam Banks, put on 139 before Rhodes enjoyed a treble success.

Umeed (72) was caught and bowled, Banks (66) perished at mid wicket and Ateeq Javid (16) was held at slip to leave Warwickshire on 165-3.

Sam Hain was lbw to Zen Malik for 35, Aaron Thomason lofted Pat Brown to cover after making 37 and George Panayi struck the same bowler into the hands of long on when on 24.

Sunny Singh (0) was run out by Josh Dell's throw from long off but Mark Adair, a last day replacement for Ian Westwood after his first team call-up, saw Warwickshire home with an unbeaten 27.

Rhodes finished with 3-66 and Brown 2-62.