Date-stamped : 06 May95 - 06:30 ENG B+H 1993 - Round 1 : WORCESTERSHIRE v ESSEX Worcester, 11 May 1993 WORCESTERSHIRE WON BY NINE WICKETS Rarely can the favourites of any competition have been so comprehensively outplayed. Worcestershire imposed such an early stranglehold that the reigning county champions manged only one run off 57 balls from Illingworth and Lampitt. With Salim Malik then brilliantly run out by Hick, and West Indian pace bowler Kenny Banjamin celebrating his belated debut for Worcestershire by bowling Hussain, there was never going to be an escape route after Essex had lurched to 73 for 7 just after lunch. Curtis and Weston reduced Worcestershire`s target of 116 by 31 before Hick plundered a demoralised attack to complete the rout. His unbeaten 62 came off just 54 balls and included 12 boundaries. The one- sided contest was won with 22.5 overs to spare. Thanks: 1994 Wisden Contributed by cp (help@cricinfo.com)