Waite drags Worcs back into contest against Essex

Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor's partnership was crucial for Worcestershire

Rothesay County Championship Division One, Visit Worcestershire New Road (day one)

Worcestershire 354-9: Waite 73, Jones 54; Snater 3-75, Critchley 2-13, Thain 2-71

Essex: Yet to bat

Worcestershire (3pts), Essex (3pts)

Match scorecard

A stubborn batting display dragged Worcestershire in front after Essex's bowlers looked to have taken control of proceedings on Day One of the County Championship at Visit Worcestershire New Road.

Shane Snater led the way for the visitors early on, returning figures of 3-75 from his 23 overs, as he and his bowling unit had the hosts on the ropes at 123-5.

Rob Jones provided the most resistance as his half-century underpinned a gritty batting display from the hosts, as the loss of regular wickets thwarted any momentum throughout the afternoon.

A crucial eighth-wicket partnership between Matthew Waite and Tom Taylor however, changed the context of the day late on and drove the home side into a healthy position heading into day two, as they reached 354-9 at stumps.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Essex did not wait long before forcing their first breakthrough of the morning when Snater trapped Gareth Roderick lbw for 17, before New Zealand International Henry Nicholls departed soon after without scoring after nicking an attempted leave behind from a lively Kasun Rajitha delivery.

On a wicket tinged with green that kept the bowlers interested throughout the morning session, it was the visiting side's seam attack that continued their line of questioning with Jake Libby given a stern test of his defensive credentials as the hosts brought up their fifty without any further casualties.

The spring was in the step of the Essex attack however, and it wasn't long before 20-year-old Noah Thain ensured the visitors headed into lunch with the upper hand, when the right arm seamer wheeled away in delight after drawing Libby forward with an enticing delivery that moved away just enough, to catch his edge and leave the Division One strugglers 58-3.

Although wicketless in his opening spell, England hopeful Jamie Porter continued to mount pressure, with a switch of ends later in the morning not deterring from his unrelenting line and length, beating the bat on multiple occasions.

It was to no avail however, as the hosts made it to lunch with seven wickets intact and 84 runs on the board.

Kashif Ali and Jones came together and looked to provide some much-needed middle order stability by adding 61 for the fifth wicket, before a Snater delivery jagged back and stayed low to castle Ali for 46, and shortly after removed Brett D'Oliveira to put his side firmly in control.

The paceman had his tail up and carried his eye-catching form into the afternoon session as he and his fellow seamers gave nothing away to a side seemingly low on confidence trying to mount a reasonable first innings score.

Ethan Brookes joined Jones and took the attack to the bowlers, but Porter brought an end to proceedings when he had him caught behind for a well-made 45 ball 31.

The combination of a slow outfield and a pitch offering just enough to perk their interests, the Essex attack rotated seamlessly to take wickets at regular intervals.

There was time for Jones to raise his bat as he reached his 50 milestone, but when he departed ten balls later, Worcestershire looked anxiously at their tail in hopes of late rearguard action.

Matthew Waite (73) and Tom Taylor (43), then came together and dug deep to swing the momentum back in the home side's favour, as their partnership of 95 for the eighth-wicket left the Pears feeling the happier of the two sides at stumps.

ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay