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Worcestershire relegated from County Championship Division One after innings and 129-run loss to Essex

Worcestershire
Image: Worcestershire have won just two of their 12 Division One matches in 2018

Worcestershire have been relegated from Division One of the County Championship after falling to an innings and 129-run loss to Essex at Chelmsford.

SCORECARD

It was the Rapids' ninth County Championship defeat of the season, with Daryl Mitchell's side having managed just two first-class wins this term so far with one match remaining.

Just six days after lifting the T20 Blast trophy at Edgbaston, Worcestershire followed up a dismal first-innings showing - which saw them bowled out for just 94 - by producing a second innings with a bit more fight.

Joe Clarke's hopes of batting long and helping rescue the visitors were dashed when he was bowled by Jamie Porter with the third ball of the morning, failing to add to his overnight score of 74.

Jamie Porter - Essex
Image: Jamie Porter has taken over 50 Division One wickets in consecutive seasons for Essex

The Rapids' man-of-the-match in both their Blast semi-final and final victories, Ben Cox, managed to make just nine before he was bowled by Simon Harmer and three balls later Samuel Cook had Josh Tongue (12) caught at gully.

A rain delay took the players off the pitch, and the brief respite allowed Ed Barnard and Wayne Parnell to compose themselves as the eighth-wicket pair returned to put on a 51-run partnership to take them to lunch without any further damage.

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But, Essex's spearhead Porter required only two balls after the break to have Barnard (22) caught behind and although Parnell battled through to reach his half-century off 94 balls, Harmer dismissed Ben Twohig (18) and Dillon Pennington in consecutive balls to bowl the visitors out for 251.

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