ZAHEER Khan recorded career-best figures of 9-65 as Essex surrendered tamely in response to a mammoth Worcestershire total in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship.

Khan cemented his place as division two's leading wicket-taker, sending Essex slumping to 186-9 at the end of the second day in reply to Worcestershire's 650-7 declared.

The 27-year-old Indian fast bowler tore the heart out of Essex, finding prodigious swing which left the home batsmen shell-shocked as nine wickets fell for 68 runs.

Varun Chopra and Mark Pettini posted an opening partnership of 117 runs before Khan returned to begin a magnificent spell of swing bowling which left the Essex innings in ruins.

Chopra had just reached a 96-ball half-century when he was undone by a ball that straightened.

But the wicket of Pettini sent subsequent wickets tumbling like dominoes.

The opener edged a ball that was angled across him and five balls later Andy Flower followed a ball to give Ben Smith a catch at first slip.

In Khan's next over, Ronnie Irani gave Stephen Davies a tumbling catch and James Foster edged to Smith, leaving them in disarray at 134-5.

That became 142-7 when Ryan ten Doeschate gave Smith his third catch and Tim Phillips was out-foxed.

Khan found lift to account for Alex Tudor, caught at second slip, and Andre Adams fell leg before to the final ball.

Khan said: "There was some reverse swing and it was one of those days when everything I did came off.

"I just kept putting the ball in the right areas and if you do that, it puts pressure on the batsmen. There were some excellent catches by first slip and the wicketkeeper but I don't think the wicket was doing a great deal.

"I did start to think about taking all 10 wickets once the eighth wicket fell and it would be marvellous to achieve that -- but the main thing is that Worcestershire are in a strong position."

Earlier, the visitors added another 191 runs to their overnight score with Gareth Batty recording his second first-class century.

Batty reached 112 not out and Kabir Ali celebrated his return to the England one-day squad with an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 101.

He was the sixth Worcestershire centurion in the last three matches, while the County's total was the fourth highest on the ground.

Ali linked up with England last night and was replaced by Stuart Wedge today.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said of Kabir: "I'm really pleased for him, he's bowled well in the last three weeks or so and been taking lots of wickets."