CHELMSFORD (first day of four; Essex won toss): Worcestershire have scored 459 for five wickets against Essex
AFTER an impoverished start to the season, Worcestershire are feasting in June and Phil Jaques buried his nose deep in the trough yesterday. Having passed 300 in only one innings before the end of May, Worcestershire made 459 in a day to go with 618 and 587 in their previous two first innings.
Jaques became the third Worcestershire batsman to make 200 this month, after Vikram Solanki and Ben Smith, and he passed his highest first-class score of 243 in the 96th over. The Australia opener was out next ball, a tickle behind off Darren Gough, but has now made 659 championship runs for Worcestershire in eight completed innings. The sooner Andy Bichel is available the better for Essex. The Australia fast-medium bowler arrives today and Essex need his quality.
Stephen Moore and Jaques were the perfect double act before lunch, each reaching fifty off 62 balls. Once Moore was out, Jaques was in a class of his own, taking 135 balls for his first hundred and 97 for his second. There was a dazzling period before tea when Worcestershire added 69 runs in seven overs. Ronnie Irani, the Essex captain, spent the afternoon off the field with a headache and each time Jaques pounded the advertising boards — he had 30 fours and four sixes — must have been a painful reminder of Irani’s decision to field first.