McGrath strikes for Worcs but Essex hit back

Essex struck back at Worcestershire after yielding a 109 runs first innings lead at Chelmsford. By the close the visitors were on 124-7: the position would have been more parlous ut for Vikram Solanki striking 53 from 57 balls with one six and nine fours.

However he was eventually out to off-spinner Peter Such who returned 3-28 in 15 overs. Nineteen wickets fell for 263 runs in the day. The procession of departing batsmen began early with the loss of Worcestershire three outstanding wickets for just 8 runs to leave the total on 240.

This modest score began to look formidable as Glenn McGrath cut into the Essex innings. In a hostile opening spell which started with the dismissal of Paul Grayson and he finished with 5-40 in 18 overs in bowling out Essex for 131. Darren Robinson was unable to bat as he had broken his thumb in fielding and Mark Ilott left the field after pulling a hamstring.