A ton for Law and a failure for Nasser

Stuart Law overshadowed another dismal batting display by Nasser Hussain as Essex took control of their County Championship Division One match at Kidderminster against Worcestershire.

The Australian right-hander struck a superb 189 after the England captain, struggling for form this season, made just 10.

Essex finished the day on 461 for 9 from 114 overs in reply to Worcestershire's 302.

Hussain, nine not out overnight, added just a single to fine leg before he pushed forward to a Kabir Ali delivery which he edged to wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes.

With Hussain's departure came the arrival of the rampant Law. He and Paul Prichard, who was 10 not out overnight, added a solid partnership of 166 in 37 overs.

The partnership was ended when 19 year-old paceman Kabir tempted Prichard into playing a loose drive, the batsman being caught at backward point by David Leatherdale.

Prichard, who dislocated his left thumb while fielding a shot from Worcestershire centurion Paul Pollard, made 74 from 171 balls (nine fours, two sixes).

Despite the departure of Prichard and Ronnie Irani, who was removed by paceman Stuart Lampitt for 14, Law continued in to his fourth championship hundred of the season, the 100 coming from 136 deliveries with 17 fours.

It was his 25th first-class hundred for Essex and the 47th of his career. It was also his second ton of the season against Worcestershire, having smashed 133 not out against them at Chelmsford last month.

Law did inject a few scares into the Essex camp before reaching his ton. A couple of shots went close to Graeme Hick in the slips.Nevertheless, once into three figures he continued to hog centre stage.

In tandem with Stephen Peters (67), Law added 185 in 41 overs - an Essex fifth-wicket record against Worcestershire. Peters eventually played on to left-armer seamer Alamgir Sheriyar after having made his best score of the season.

Sheriyar made it two in the over by bringing Law's magnificent innings to an end, with the assistance of an excellent one-handed catch by Vikram Solanki low down at cover. Law's 189 included 30 fours off 243 deliveries in 338 minutes.

After that Essex steadily began to subside, but 76 extras helped their account nicely.

Kabir Ali, with 4/114, was Worcestershire's best bowler.