WORCESTERSHIRE spent a painful day in the field in more ways than one in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two match against Essex at New Road yesterday.

Paceman Andy Bichel and opener Stephen Peters both picked up injuries before Essex closed last night on 316-4 off 106 overs in reply to the County's first innings total of 367.

Bichel suffered a tweaked hamstring while former Essex batsman Peters has a suspected broken thumb.

The County are hopeful Bichel will be fit for next Tuesday's Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Zimbabwe's 19-year-old Test and one-day international number two wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, who is playing for Worcester in the Birmingham League, came on just after lunch to replace Bichel while New Road Director of Cricket Tom Moody took over after tea from Peters. Kadeer Ali took over fielding duties from Moody today.

Essex, who resumed on 9-0, made steady progress throughout yesterday. Darren Robinson made 71 which included eight fours off 181 deliveries, putting on 59 in 24 overs with Aftab Habib who added a further 79 in 17 overs with Andy Flower.

Flower made 45 before Peters damaged his thumb when he caught him at cover-point off paceman Alamgir Sheriyar.

The New Road attack continued to be frustrated by Habib and Ronnie Irani, but this morning Irani was trapped lbw by Sheriyar for 48, making it 321-5 and ending a stand of 103, with Habib still one short of his century.