SKIPPER Graeme Hick blamed Worcestershire's failure with the bat for their disappointing five wicket Frizzell County Championship Division Two defeat against Essex at New Road.

It was the County's second successive County Championship reversal and followed the 110-run hammering they suffered at home to Glamorgan the previous week.

After Essex had reached their modest victory target of 135 just before tea on Saturday, Hick said: "It was frustrating again. We fell down in the same area.

"I thought the effort in the bowling and in the fielding was superb in both games but we have let ourselves down with the bat.

"We have just not got enough runs on the board. I think with the way both games have gone it's not hard to say that it wouldn't have taken many more runs to us to have been in a very commanding position.

"That's something we have to address. It's disappointing for myself and I think for the other guys in the order."

Hick praised pacemen Alamgir Sheriyar and Kabir Ali for their efforts following the hamstring tweak that restricted Andy Bichel's appearance in the match in which opener Stephen Peters broke his right thumb.

He said: "Sheriyar and Kabir dug deep and put in a lot of overs in the last couple of days. You can't fault those and the other bowlers for their efforts.

"But 135 was never enough for them to bow at when you are a man down in your attack. If we had had 230 to bowl at I would have put my house on it."

Worcestershire resumed 92 ahead on Saturday on 98-6 and with Peters unable to bat were all out for 140.

Essex's 37-year-old medium pacer John Stephenson, only playing because of a catalogue of injuries to his side's bowling department, claimed a career-best 7-44.

Worcestershire made a positive start when the visitors launched their victory bid with Kabir and Sheriyar reducing them to a shaky 13-3.

Essex's fortunes began to lift, however, when Paul Grayson and Andy Flower put on 53 in 12 overs.

Grayson finally fell for 26 before Flower and Ronnie Irani steered Essex towards their victory target by adding a further 51 in 12 overs.

Flower departed for 47 leaving Irani and Stephenson to complete the job.

The County now have to wait until Wednesday, June 26, before they return to Championship action at New Road with a match against Durham.