Essex rally to overcome Worcestershire

Essex beat Worcestershire by four wickets at Chelmsford thanks primarily to Stuart Law's third county championship of the season. He scored 133 n.o. as the home side attained 286 to achieve their third Division Two victory this summer. Essex had come from behind magnificently after being 109 runs behind on the first innings.

Earlier in the day off-spinner Peter Such took two wickets to finish with 5-39 from 22.3 overs as Worcestershire were dismissed for 176 in their second innings. Glenn McGrath, the most successful bowler in the first innings, was treated particularly harshly by the Essex batsmen. He yielded 34 in his first four overs - Paul Prichard hitting four quick boundaries.

When he was out to Kabir Ali shortly afterwards, Paul Grayson joined Law in a stand of 118 runs in 37 overs. He reached his fifty by hooking McGrath for six, but at 69 was caught by Stuart Lampitt at square-leg off David Leatherdale. Law accelerated his rate of scoring and got to his hundred from 177 balls (the last fifty coming in 56). Skipper Ronnie Irani joined him in a further three-figure stand by making 35.

Thereafter a further fall of wickets brought the match to a tense conclusion. McGrath came back and in hostile manner dismissed Stephen Peters, Barry Hyam and Danny Law as Essex toppled to 265-6. By with the help of a runner Mark Ilott and Law took the hosts to their target. Law's innings included a six and 19 fours and lasted 220 deliveries.