ANURAG Singh scored his second Frizzell County Championship century of the season as Worcestershire assumed control of their Division Two clash with Essex at Southend.

Tom Moody's men ended the day on 332-6 -- a lead of 135 with four first-innings wickets still intact.

Singh made 124 as the Worcestershire batsmen built on the good work of their bowlers against the league leaders.

Vikram Solanki chipped in with a valuable 56, and with wicketkeeper Steven Rhodes unbeaten on 45 and Andy Bichel still there on 19, the visitors were hoping to inflict more misery on Essex.

But Bichel, who had moved on to 30 today, was caught off the bowling of Justin Bishop. He had added 46 with Rhodes for the seventh wicket.

Resuming yesterday on 16 without loss, Singh and fellow opener Philip Weston had got the Worcestershire reply off to a commanding start, putting on 82 for the first wicket.

Slow left-arm spinner Tim Phillips' second over of the day went for 16 runs as Weston in particular began to play his shots.

The Worcestershire opener looked well-set for a big score, but fell when playing across the line to off-spinner James Middlebrook to be trapped leg before for 39.

Singh continued to be aggressive though, and his 167-ball century included 13 fours -- but he was eventually dismissed edging Bishop to Andy Flower behind the stumps.

He was briefly joined at the crease by Graeme Hick, who made only nine before nibbling at Andrew Clarke, Middlebrook taking the catch at third slip.

Ben Smith needlessly got himself out on 20, driving straight down the throat of Cowan at short extra-cover.

Gareth Batty missed out, being trapped leg before by Ashley Cowan for a second-ball duck, but Solanki and Rhodes combined to put on 74 for the sixth wicket as Worcestershire built up a healthy first-innings lead.

Solanki moved on to 56 before lofting Stephenson to Cowan in the covers to leave Worcestershire on 309-6.

Rhodes played a typically unorthodox innings at the other end, constantly rotating the strike with a series of clever chips and unorthodox pushes.

He hit five boundaries to reach 45 by the close of play and, with Bichel adding a useful 19 at a run-a-ball, Worcestershire were well-set to press home their advantage over the final two days.