Waite, Taylor wrestle taut tussle Worcestershire's way

A stubborn batting display dragged Worcestershire in front after Essex's bowlers looked to have taken control of proceedings on day one of the Rothesay County Championship at Visit Worcestershire New Road.

Shane Snater led the way for the visitors early on, taking three wickets to put the hosts on the ropes at 123 for 5. Rob Jones provided the most resistance as his half-century underpinned a gritty batting display from the hosts, as the loss of regular wickets thwarted any momentum throughout the afternoon.

A crucial eighth-wicket partnership between Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor, however, changed the context of the day late on and drove the home side into a healthy position, as they reached 354 for 9 at stumps.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Essex didn't wait long before forcing their first breakthrough of the morning when Snater trapped Gareth Roderick lbw for 17. New-Zealand International Henry Nicholls departed soon after without scoring after nicking an attempted leave behind from a lively Kasun Rajitha delivery.

On a wicket tinged with green that kept the bowlers interested throughout the morning session, it was the visiting side's seam attack that continued their line of questioning with Jake Libby given a stern test of his defensive credentials throughout the morning session as the hosts brought up their 50 without any further casualties.

The spring was in the step of the Essex attack, however, and it wasn't long before 20-year-old Noah Thain ensured Essex headed into lunch with the upper hand, when the right-arm seamer wheeled away in delight after drawing Libby forward with an enticing delivery that moved away just enough, to catch his edge and leave the Division One strugglers 67 for 3.

Although wicketless in his opening spell, England hopeful Jamie Porter continued to mount pressure, with a switch of ends later in the morning not deterring from his unrelenting line and length, beating the bat on multiple occasions. It was to no avail, as the hosts made it to lunch with seven wickets intact and 84 runs on the board.

Kashif Ali and Jones came together and looked to provide some much-needed middle order stability by adding 61 for the fifth wicket, before a Snater delivery jagged back and stayed low to castle Kashif for 46. Shortly after, Snater removed Brett D'Oliveira to put his side firmly in control.

Ethan Brookes joined Jones and took the attack to the bowlers, but Porter brought an end to proceedings when he had him caught behind for a well-made 31 off 31 balls.

The combination of a slow outfield and a pitch offering just enough to perk their interests, the Essex attack rotated seamlessly to take wickets at regular intervals. There was time for Jones to raise his bat as he reached 50, but when he departed ten balls later, Worcestershire looked anxiously at their tail in hopes of a late rearguard.

Waite (73) and Taylor (43), then came together and dug deep to swing the momentum right back in the home side's favour, as their partnership of 95 for the eighth-wicket left the Pears feeling the happier of the two sides.