Worcestershire secured a second bowling point during the second morning of the LV = County Championship clash with Essex at Chelmsford.
Paceman Charlie Morris picked up two wickets and spinners Moeen Ali and Brett D'Oliveira one apiece after Essex had resumed on 198-3 from 69 overs in reply to Worcestershire's all-out total of 84 on day one.
The home side reached 289-7 off 100 overs by lunch – a lead of 205.
Play was delayed for 15 minutes because of rain at the start of the day.
The 100 partnership between first day centurion Nick Browne and skipper James Foster came up in 29 overs.
Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell rang the changes with six different bowlers employed in the first 12 overs.
It was Moeen who made the first breakthrough when Browne on 118 was bowled by the England all-rounder.
Browne faced 241 balls and hit 17 fours and the partnership with Foster was worth 118 in 34 overs.
D'Oliveira was brought back into the attack and he trapped Foster lbw for 48 at 226-5.
Jesse Ryder decided to adopt an aggressive approach but new batsman Kishen Velani was dropped on three by Tom Fell at third slip off Morris.
It did not prove a costly miss and Velani on nine hooked at Morris and was caught by Jack Shantry at fine leg.
Morris struck again when he induced an edge from Graham Napier (2) and was caught at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore to leave Essex on 268-7 in the 91st over.
Ryder, who was today awarded his county cap, was unbeaten on 42 at lunch.
