NEW ROAD (day one of four; Worcestershire won the toss)

Essex 80-7. Worcestershire 176 all out

Lunch

Despite losing the toss Essex went in to the lunch break very much on top after Tony Palladino, the opening bowler, struck twice to have the home side struggling at 53-2.

The Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore made painstaking progress, inching their way to 24 before Moore was trapped lbw going half forward to Alex Tudor. He had taken 62 minutes to reach double figures and when Mitchell drove loosely at a wide delivery from Palladino after making 14, his barren sequence continued.

Wicketkeeper James Foster took a sharp one-handed catch low to his right off Palladino to send Vikram Solanki back to the pavilion when he was drawn in to a half-hearted prod, before the experienced pair of Graeme Hick and Ben Smith brought up the 50 just before lunch.

Tea

Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, may well be regretting his decision to bat after winning the toss when his team registered their lowest championship total this season after they limped to Only Ben Smith, who featured in a dogged tenth-wicket partnership of 29 with Chris Whelan, offered any resistance with a gritty 60 to post his best score in this year’s championship.

A combination of accurate pace bowling by the former England opener Alex Tudor and Tony Palladino and some injudicious shot selection by Worcestershire’s batsmen saw them claim three scalps each. Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-break bowler chipped in with three late wickets to complete a disappointing day for the home team.

Resuming at 52-3 after lunch, Palladino dispatched Graeme Hick with a delivery that climbed on him just as he was beginning to grow in confidence and stroking some crisp drives through the off-side after a hesitant start.

Davies was guilty of a sloppy shot after looking set, poking at a wide ball from Tudor to be safely pouched at gully by Tom Westley. But once he departed, the rot set in.

Close

Essex were left reeling on 80-7 after Worcestershire hit back strongly, having compiled their lowest total of the season. When bad light stopped play five overs short of the scheduled close, Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, will feel completely vindicated by his decision to bat.

On a seaming wicket, Kabir Ali captured three quick wickets, including the prized scalp of Ravi Bopara. The Australia-born Steve Magoffin proved a useful foil, dismissing both opening batsmen as the visiting side collapsed to 39-5.

Only Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster offered any resistance, with the former hitting a breezy 28 before Hick safely pouched a chance at second slip off Simon Jones, who then bowled Alex Tudor to claim his second wicket of the over.

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