ENGLAND fast bowler James Anderson soon had Worcestershire in trouble at the start of the second day of their Frizzell Championship Division One game at Old Trafford.

Kadeer Ali was the batsman to suffer when he egded the paceman to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg.

That left Worcestershire struggling on 77-5, still 110 runs behind the red rose county's modest first innings total.

South African all-rounder Andrew Hall joined nightwatchman Nadeem Malik in an effort to repair the damage.

But Nadeem did not last much longer. He became Anderson's fourth victim when he was bowled after adding just two today to his overnight nought not out.

His wicket left Worcestershire on a precarious 88-6 with Gareth Batty joining Hall.

Yesterday Mal Loye overcame the handicap of a painful back spasm to keep Lancashire in the game. Loye (59 not out) had made four when he retired hurt, but he returned at 117 for six to revitalise his team to a passable 187 all out.

Matt Mason, Andy Bichel, Nadeem, Hall and eventually England off-spinner Batty had two wickets each as the County attack made full use of the helpful conditions in Manchester.

But Anderson and then Gary Keedy levelled up in the individual wickets column as Worcestershire reached 77 for four by stumps to hold a less clear-cut advantage than had once seemed likely in a well-progressed match.