THREE Worcestershire players made half-centuries and Charlie Morris claimed four wickets in a four-run win over Essex Eagles in a 50-over friendly.

Daryl Mitchell, Josh Dell and George Rhodes starred with the bat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium nursery ground in Abu Dhabi alongside a strong contribution from skipper Joe Leach.

Their efforts helped Rapids reach 293-7 after Leach, playing his first match since suffering a stress fracture of the back last summer, won the toss and elected to bat.

Then Morris got to work with the ball and in a thrilling finish Eagles were bowled out for 289 in the 49th over.

New signing Riki Wessels made his first appearance in County colours and struck 22 after opening with Alex Milton (8).

Wessels had joined up with his team-mates after two games in the Pakistan Super League.

After Ollie Westbury (0) fell to Sam Cook the middle order all weighed in with sizeable contributions.

Mitchell, the club's leading run-scorer in the County Championship last summer, made 65.

Dell matched Mitchell’s efforts and then Rhodes struck 54 before Leach made 42 not out.

Jamie Porter chipped in with three wickets and there was one apiece for Cook, Aaron Beard, Matt Coles and Paul Walter.

In reply, former England Test captain Alastair Cook (50) and Ryan ten Doeschate (62) were among the runs before wicketkeeper Adam Wheater made an unbeaten century.

But Morris chipped away at the batting and finished with 4-59 from nine overs.

The other wicket-takers were Josh Tongue (8.4-0-50-2), Mitchell (6-1-22-1), Ben Twohig (9-0-44-1) and Brett D’Oliveira (6-0-44-2).

The players have a warm-weather training day before taking on Warwickshire in another 50-over game on Saturday.