ANDY Bichel smashed an unbeaten 161 as Worcestershire triumphed by seven wickets in a limited-over friendly against Essex at Chelmsford.

It was the Australian Test star's second ton inside three days as he revved up for the County's opening Frizzell County Championship Division One match with Kent which starts at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Bichel also hammered 114 in Worcestershire's two-day 'warm-up' match against Essex which ended in a draw at Chelmsford on Friday.

On Saturday he was again in free-scoring form as the County roared to victory with ten overs to spare after taking full advantage of the short boundaries.

Essex, who won the toss, made 302-7 off their 45 overs with two wickets each for Bichel (2-62), Nadeem Malik (2-59) and Shaftab Khalid (2-62).

When Bichel turned to attention on the Essex attack he raced to his century off just 52 balls with seven sixes and 11 fours. His 150 came off 89 deliveries. He was well supported by Vikram Solanki who cracked 78 during a 219-run stand for the second wicket with Bichel.