WORCESTERSHIRE face a quick return to Specsavers County Championship Division Two after leaving themselves with a mountain to climb at Essex.

Last season's promoted champions will drop from Division One with a defeat at Chelmsford and they are 240 runs behind Essex with just six wickets remaining in their second innings going into the third day.

Having been dismissed for just 94 in their first knock the County were always on the back foot and then the hosts declared on a mammoth 474-7.

Worcestershire's batting again flattered to deceive as they were reduced to 4-2 and then 44-4 before climbing to 140-4.

England hopeful Joe Clarke’s classy evening 74 not out gave them hope of at least forcing Essex to bat again.

But the day belonged to former England ace Ravi Bopara who scored his second Championship century of the season.

He ticked the Essex innings along, putting on century stands with half-century makers Adam Wheater and Simon Harmer.

Bopara started the day unbeaten on 36 after a watchful start on day one and continued in more fluent style in the morning.

He arrived at his 53rd first-class half-century with a cover drive off his 136th delivery.

Bopara was accompanied by Wheater in a 117-run stand for the sixth wicket with the wicketkeeper claiming a 50 of his own in 70 balls.

But they were both indebted to a series of dropped catches.

Wheater, who had been shelled on 24 the previous evening, rode his luck again on 59 when Tom Fell saw the ball slip through his fingers at third slip.

Bopara was given lives on 45 and 58 by Alex Milton at deep-midwicket and Daryl Mitchell at second slip.

Wheater (66) was bowled by Ed Barnard but that only started a third century stand of the Essex innings.

Bopara brought up the ton with his 212th delivery in an entertaining 134-run partnership with Harmer.

Harmer collected his first 50 of the season from 78 balls before he was bowled for 57 attempting to charge Ben Twohig.

Essex eventually declared with Bopara unbeaten on 133 to give them full bonus points from the match and an imposing first-innings lead of 380.

The County's response did not start strongly.

Fell departed for a single in the third over when he saw his middle-stump sent cartwheeling by Jamie Porter for the second time in the game.

Four balls later Mitchell was given out lbw for a duck after a low shooter from Porter for his ninth wicket in the match before Oliver Westbury (8) was lbw to Matt Coles.

But Clarke unfurled a series of drives to drag his side from another collapse and rapidly moved to a 72-ball half-century.

He added 94 with Milton (38) before the latter was lbw to Harmer having earlier been dropped by second slip Dan Lawrence.