ESSEX found runs hard to come by when they resumed on 9-0 in reply to Worcestershire's 367 in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match at New Road.

Paul Grayson, on three not out overnight and Darren Robinson, with six, began against the pace attack of Andy Bichel and Alamgir Sheriyar.

They faced a long haul to match Worcestershire's 367 in 99.5 overs.

Yesterday the County got off to a promising start, after winning the toss, with a 50-run stand between former Essex batsman Stephen Peters and Singh. But than came a slump to 1130-5.

Once Peters was out for 24, Singh (60) added a further 61 with Graeme Hick hitting one six and nine fours.

Hick's dismissal for 30 was followed by ducks for Vikram Solanki and David Leatherdale, but then Smith (61) and Gareth Batty (32) put on 85 in 21 overs.

Essex were then held up by a 71-run partnership between Steve Rhodes and Bichel. Another 64 runs in ten overs were injected by Kabir Ali (40) before Bichel (65) was last out after crashing three sixes and seven fours.