A FINE innings from Ethan Brookes proved in vain as Worcestershire CCC suffered a narrow 28-run defeat at Essex in the County Championship.
Brookes scored 88 from just 105 deliveries before he was caught and bowled by Jamie Porter to bring an end to a thrilling contest at Chelmsford.
The defeat means Worcestershire remain winless from their opening three Division One fixtures and sit bottom of the table on 15 points.
Worcestershire went into the final day needing 110 runs for victory while Essex required just four wickets to win the game themselves.
And rain forecast for later in the day added an extra element to the contest.
Essex took two quick wickets as Matthew Waite (27) and Tom Taylor (1) departed with the Pears still 103 runs from victory.
And Ben Allison (0) lasted just 12 balls to leave Worcestershire on the brink of another defeat.
However, Brookes took control of the innings and produced a fine knock which included six fours and seven sixes.
As the Pears edged towards an unlikely first win of the season, Brookes lobbed the ball in the air which allowed Porter (6-52) to rush in and make the catch.
That came after Worcestershire bowled Essex out for just 179 in the home side’s first innings.
Superb bowling from Jacob Duffy (4-39), Waite (3-47) and Allison (2-27) restricted Essex to a disappointing total.
In reply, Worcestershire managed 202 from their first innings as the Pears recovered from 22-4 to take a slender lead.
Both Adam Hose (48) and Brett D’Oliveira (48) came close to scoring half-centuries while Kasun Rajitha (4-52) impressed with the ball for Essex.
The home side posted 317 all out from their second innings which featured a century from opener Paul Taylor (104) and half-century from Noah Thain (54).
Another slow start cost Worcestershire in their second innings as the Pears found themselves in trouble on 78-4.
A half-century from Kashif Ali (50) kept the Pears in the contest before Brookes’ heroics set up an exciting finish as the visitors fell just short in their attempts to pull off an unlikely victory.
Worcestershire are next in action against Durham on Friday, April 25 with the game to begin at 11am at New Road.
