WORCESTERSHIRE are staring defeat in the face after being skittled out for just 129 in their LV County Championship Division One clash at Yorkshire.

The County, responding to Yorkshire's daunting 521-7, fell apart miserably on a terrible third day and followed on needing 392 to avoid an innings defeat.

By the time bad light and rain ended play at Headingley with 22 overs still remaining, Worcestershire had already lost a wicket in their second effort of 29-1.

Yorkshire's Matthew Hoggard enjoyed the perfect warm-up for next week's first Test between England and the West Indies at Lord's by grabbing 5-34 in the first innings.

Wet weather delayed yesterday's start until 2.30pm when Worcestershire resumed on 57-2 and Yorkshire wasted no time in going flat out to destroy their bottom-of-the-table opponents.

With his fifth delivery, Hoggard sent back left-hander Phil Jaques, who slapped the ball hard to wide mid-off where Darren Gough pulled off a great catch and the Australian departed for 38.

Then, with the third ball of his opening over, Gough had Ben Smith taken low at first slip by Jacques Rudolph to make it 58-4.

But worse was to follow for Worcestershire as Hoggard helped himself to three wickets in one over.

Graeme Hick (11) fell lbw pushing half forward and Steven Davies was superbly caught low at cover point by Adil Rashid for a duck.

Then Kabir Ali edged a chest-high catch to Anthony McGrath at third slip.

When Hoggard was rested from his six-over spell, three of which were maidens, he had taken 4-7.

Roger Sillence and Gareth Batty pushed the score on to 102-8 with a 30-run stand.

But Sillence attempted to pull a short ball from Jason Gillespie only to be caught at point by Rashid who claimed Batty's wicket when he top-edged a sweep to Gillespie.

Gillespie wrapped up the innings by taking his third wicket as Dewald Nel edged into Gerard Brophy's gloves and Worcestershire were straight back in again immediately after the tea interval.

Stephen Moore was out in the sixth over, edging Gough to Rudolph at first slip.

But Worcestershire were soon spared any further problems when bad light and rain came to their aid with 67 of the day's overs falling foul of the weather.