WORCESTERSHIRE secured a memorable 43-run win against Essex in the County Championship after bowling out their opponents for 140 on the final day.
The Pears posted 266 and 321 either side of Essex posting 404 from their first innings to leave the home side needing just 184 for victory at the County Ground in Chelmsford.
However, a superb bowling display, in which Logan van Beek took four wickets, saw Worcestershire skittle Essex for just 140 to earn a memorable win.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Worcestershire made the worst possible start, losing four wickets inside the first five overs.
The Pears lost Jake Libby (7), Gareth Roderick (0), Rob Jones (1) and Adam Hose (0) in quick succession to leave Worcestershire in huge trouble on 10-4.
And Kashif Ali (24) followed soon after with the Pears on 46-5 as captain Brett D’Oliveira (68) and Ethan Brookes (46) set about rebuilding the Worcestershire innings with a 72-run sixth-wicket stand.
Excellent knocks from tail order batters Tom Taylor (62 not out) and Amar Virdi (42) helped Worcestershire reach 266 all out as Jamie Porter (5-52) starred with the ball.
In reply, Essex posted a big total as Tom Westley (68), Michael Pepper (112 not out) and Shane Snater (53) all impressed with the bat.
Both Brookes (3-34) and Virdi (3-126) took three wickets apiece as Worcestershire trailed by 138 runs heading into their second innings.
Another shaky start saw the Pears slip to 24-2 although Libby (65), Hose (64) and D’Oliveira (51) all scored half-centuries as Worcestershire were bowled out for 321.
Needing a strong bowling display to win the match, Joe Leach (1-12) took the new ball and trapped Dean Elgar (6) LBW to claim an early scalp.
Essex pair Robin Das (32) and Westley (21) looked to frustrate the Pears bowlers only for the latter’s wicket to spark a collapse which saw the home side lose their final eight wickets for the addition of just 71 runs.
A flurry of wickets saw the hosts slip from 53-2 to 81-6 as Taylor (2-35), van Beek (4-26) and Virdi (2-66) all struck.
Pepper (22) and Simon Harmer (19) tried to steady the ship only to fall to Virdi and Taylor respectively as the duo departed to leave Essex on 129-8.
And van Beek also mopped up the tail to secure a third straight County Championship win for the Pears.
Worcestershire continue their County Championship campaign against rivals Warwickshire on Monday, September 9 with the game to begin at 10.30am at New Road.
