WORCESTERSHIRE'S second poor batting performance in two days condemned them to a heavy 227-run defeat at the hands of Somerset, despite Zaheer Khan claiming 10 wickets on his Championship debut -- the first County player to do so in more than 100 years.

The previous occasion was in Worcestershire's first ever Championship game back in 1899 when George Wilson took 10-139 against Yorkshire at New Road.

Zaheer, who finished with 4-100 in the first innings and 6-40 in the second, was the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing match for the hosts.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes will be hoping it is nothing more sinister than early-season rustiness, but the batsmen must raise their game considerably.

The County bowlers skittled out Somerset for just 120 in their second innings, but the unlikely victory total of 366 was never in danger of being attained as Rhodes' men were dismissed for just 138.

Day three started brightly as they took less than half-an-hour to reduce the visitors from 97-7 to 120 all out -- but their victory pursuit never got going as a clatter of wickets derailed them.

Openers Stephen Moore and Daryl Mitchell looked fairly comfortable as they put on 32 for the first wicket, but Worcestershire contrived to fall from 32-1 to 48-5 in the space of 11 overs.

Mitchell was first to go, caught at third slip by Wes Durston off the evergreen Andrew Caddick, who went on to claim match figures of 9-65.

The former England opening bowler then dismissed Moore and Ben Smith with consecutive deliveries.

Captain Vikram Solanki soon departed for five as he edged Richard Johnson to Cameron White in the slips.

This left a considerable burden on Graeme Hick's broad shoulders, but the veteran surprisingly padded up to a straight delivery from Peter Trego and was sent back to the pavilion.

Steven Davies batted maturely for his 37, but he soon became the first of three wickets for left-armer Charl Willoughby.

Worcestershire's star performer Zaheer showed his colleagues how to bat as he hit a breezy unbeaten 30 before last man Nadeem Malik was caught behind.