INJURY-hit Worcestershire are in severe danger of suffering a damaging defeat in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two match against Essex at New Road today.

At the close last night they were just 92 runs ahead on 98-6.

To make their task even more difficult today they were without the services of broken thumb victim Stephen Peters.

Yesterday began with paceman Alamgir Sheriyar capturing his second successive five-wicket haul to dismiss Essex for 373.

It restricted their lead to just six runs with Aftab Habib, 96 not out overnight, finally being run out by Ben Smith for 117. He hit 18 fours off 296 balls and put on 103 in 37 overs with Ronnie Irani who made 48.

With Sheriyar producing well deserved figures of 5-111 the County quickly saw off the visitors by taking six wickets for 57 runs. Hopes of capitalising on their healthy efforts, however, soon began to subside during an afternoon interrupted by rain.

By the time the first delay arrived, causing the loss of 25 overs, they had lost openers Anurag Singh and Vikram Solanki. The resumption lasted only ten balls but proved particularly damaging with skipper Graeme Hick and David Leatherdale both falling cheaply.

When play got underway again Gareth Batty and Smith both departed to paceman John Stephenson who claimed 5-22.