OPENING batsman Brett D’Oliveira struck his maiden County Championship century for Worcestershire against high-flying Essex at New Road today.

The 24-year-old became the third generation of his family to complete the feat for the County following his grandfather Basil and late father Damian.

D’Oliveira raised his bat in the air and looked to the heavens after reaching the milestone with a two off the bowling of Graham Napier.

He eventually perished for a career-best 128, caught at short mid-wicket by Jesse Ryder off Jamie Porter, as the County slipped to 221-4 with eight overs left in the day.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell earlier shared an opening stand of 179 with D’Oliveira before he was bowled by Napier for 66.

The hosts ended the third day of the Division Two match on 226-5 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (13 not out) and Ben Cox (2no) at the crease.

They lost five wickets for 43 runs in the final session, still needing 76 to avoid the follow-on, after Essex declared their first innings on 451-9.

Worcestershire’s Joe Leach took the plaudits after grabbing 5-115, including a superb caught-and-bowled chance to remove England skipper Alastair Cook for 142.

The County vice-captain snapped up four wickets in 23 balls as they bowled with control on the third morning.

Resuming on 335-2 from 90 overs, with Cook on 130, Essex lost Ravi Bopara without adding to his overnight 48.

The former England batsman went back to a delivery from Leach and was bowled.

Leach removed Daniel Lawrence for a duck in his next over, caught at first slip by Kohler-Cadmore with the score on 346.

Leach then claimed his third victim in three overs when Ryder was trapped lbw for a duck.

With Leach giving little away, Cook was Essex’s sixth wicket to fall with the total on 359 after a 284-ball innings containing 22 fours and a six.

Wicketkeeper James Foster added 73 in 10 overs with Ryan ten Doeschate (28) before the skipper was lbw to Ed Barnard.

The hard-hitting Napier (16) cracked two successive straight sixes off Jack Shantry until caught at long-on by Matt Henry.

Foster remained unbeaten on 51 when Essex declared on the stroke of lunch after a fine diving catch from Barnard off Leach removed David Masters (1).

When Worcestershire replied, Mitchell had a fortunate escape on nine when dropped at slip by Tom Westley off Porter.

But D’Oliveira, who was particularly strong off his legs, looked in great touch and brought up his maiden Championship half-century from 52 balls.

He struck three successive boundaries through the leg side off Ryder and reached his century from 134 balls.

At tea, Worcestershire progressed to 171-0 with Mitchell 64 not out but the captain was dismissed soon after the restart.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali (8) hammered his first two balls for four but was caught by Foster off Napier with the total on 189-2.

Joe Clarke (2) was caught at slip by Cook off Masters before D’Oliveira’s 220-ball knock, containing 18 fours, ended.

Ross Whiteley soon followed for a duck, lbw to Napier (3-56), as the runs dried up in the final session.