WORCESTERSHIRE again found themselves on the wrong side of the Law in the County Championship Division Two match with Essex at Kidderminster.

Not for the first time this season they were unable to arrest the talents of free-scoring Stuart Law who put his side in a commanding position by hitting an impressive 189.

It followed his unbeaten 133 against the County in the Championship match at Chelmsford last month when Essex won by four wickets in three days.

After closing on 461-9, they added just one more run today to give them a lead of 160

The County's second innings got off to a shaky start when Philip Weston was trapped lbw by Ronne Irani for five.

Yesterday began with all eyes on out-of-form England skipper Nasser Hussain. On nine overnight he managed only a single before pushing forward to a Kabir Ali delivery and was caught behind by Steve Rhodes.

Hussain's departure heralded the arrival of Law who quickly set about the County attack along with Paul Prichard. They went on to complete a partnership worth 166 in 37 overs before pace ace Ali tempted Prichard into playing a loose drive which saw him being snapped up at backward point by David Leatherdale for 74.

His departure, coupled with Irani's dismissal by Stuart Lampitt for 14, failed to unsettle Law who completed his fourth century of the campaign, aided by 17 fours off 136 deliveries.

Before reaching his century Law had a couple of slight alarms with shots which went close to Graeme Hick in the slips, but once into three figures he continued to hog the limelight.

He finally fell to an excellent one-handed catch by Vikram Solanki off Alamgir Sheriyar's bowling.

After that Essex steadily began to subside but were aided by a bumper total of 76 extras. The County's most successful bowler was Kabir Ali with 4-114.