County attack has Essex on the back foot
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| Another one bites the dust: Daryl Mitchell joins the procession of County batsman. |
WORCESTERSHIRE seized control of their match against Essex on the opening day of the LV County Championship Division Two game at New Road - despite being bowled out for 176.
Pace bowlers Kabir Ali, Steve Magoffin and Simon Jones ripped through the visitors' batsmen to leave them reeling on 80-7.
It was a remarkable day's play following a surprise decision by County skipper Vikram Solanki to decide to bat first after winning the toss.
"I thought that it was the sort of pitch that would do something thr-oughout the game and generally we prefer to bat first," said Solanki.
A battling 60 from Ben Smith held the County innings together with several dubious leg-before decisions seeing Worcestershire dismissed in 70 overs.
After a slow opening first hour, where only 18 runs were scored, wickets soon started to fall at a rate of knots.
Worcestershire were all out by tea, leaving the New Road seamers primed and ready to rip through the Essex batsmen.
Magoffin struck in the second over of the innings to trap Tom Westley leg-before for four. The Aussie seamer then picked up the wicket of Jason Gallian with three Kabir Ali victims sandwiched in between.
Simon Jones got in on the act to, with two wickets in one over, before the umpires ended the day five overs early due to bad light.
"The wicket was helpful throughout for the seamers," said Solanki. "But we are pleased with the position we are in.
"We have had a few days like this before - but not for a while.
"This was not a wicket ideal for Championship cricket. But with the weather we have had, the pitch has been under the covers for a long time so it is difficult.
"Both teams were faced with the same conditions and we have wor-ked hard. The pitch had a bit of moisture and the sun never came out to dry it."
Even though 17 wickets fell on the opening day at New Road, there were no concerns from the pitch inspector although he will be back again today.
7:20pm Friday 30th May 2008
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