Ronnie Irani staked another claim for international recognition as Essex threatened to humiliate Worcestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final at Chelmsford. Irani hit a powerful 56 and claimed three wickets with late swing as the visitors crumbled chasing 263.

Worcestershire ended the rain-affected day reeling on 26-4 from 12 overs. Play will resume tomorrow, with Gareth Batty and David Leatherdale facing an almost impossible task. Conquering Everest in shorts might be preferable to facing Irani and Ashley Cowan early tomorrow.

It could – and perhaps should – have been very different. Irani gave the dressing-room a rueful look as Graeme Hick put the home side into bat. Play was delayed by four hours after persistant drizzle. Every available pundit thought the ball would boomerang, and was darkly talking of Essex trying to bat their overs out. Irani's 56, as well as a mature 45 from Andy Flower, a stoic 46 from Darren Robinson and a rollicking 35 from Nasser Hussain, put Worcester on the back-foot.

While Worcester's bowlers struggled to keep their length, Essex had the ball on a string. The visitors struggled to find their way in front of an increasingly vociferous (and suitably inebriated) Chelmsford crowd. Irani, who had been swinging the ball away, angled one into Anurag Singh, who was adjudged leg before though the ball looked to be missing leg stump. Hick recorded Worcester's second duck first ball, spooning a catch to Graham Napier in the gully.

At the other end, Ashley Cowan was finding the sort of life which the look of the pitch promised. His first three overs were maidens. The fourth proved successful, Vikram Solanki plumb to an off-cutter. Irani moved one back into Ben Smith who could have no complaints for his leg before decision. For good measure, Flower flicked the bails off – Smith would have been stumped as well.

Kabir Ali was the only bowler who threatened for Worcestershire. The 21-year-old, who is the most successful bowler in the country so far this year, bowled with a little nip, swinging the ball away from the right-hander. He deserved his four wickets, and his effort prevented Essex from turning a good total into an excellent one.

Hussain was on the offensive immediately. Showing the form which brought him a century in the quarter-final, the England skipper took advantage of Alagmir Sheriyar's awful opening spell. He hit four consecutive boundaries, two cover drives, one though point and a hook for six. Hussain went for 35, brilliantly caught by Singh above his head at mid-on.

Napier and Robinson initially struggled to maintain the rate. After attempting some lusty blows, Napier was caught at long-on, while Robinson looked to bat steadily at one end.

Andy Flower was underway with a straight-drive and a lazy flick over mid-wicket to the fence. He batted with the nonchalant assurance that his class allows. With Robinson run-out attempting a risky single, skipper Irani signalled his intentions, hitting over the top early. He hit three sixes, the first a baseball shot from a Stuart Lampitt full toss, as well as two over long-on. He was unperturbed by Flower's departure, another mid-pitch mix-up. When Irani was stumped thanks to quick work by Steve Rhodes for 56, he had put Essex well on top. It was a bustling innings, a man in the form of his life oozing confidence.

The Worcester bowling was poor. Allan Donald, who had arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early hours after attending Hansie Cronje's funeral in South Africa, was accurate without looking particularly threatening. Sheriyar – who also missed two chances – was awful, while Lampitt and Leatherdale at least kept some control. Thanks to Kabir, and some poor shot selection, Essex failed to make 300, which looked eminently possible when Irani and Flower were at the crease.

Worcestershire have only lost one one-day match this season, the first game in the Benson and Hedges Cup. Then they were dismissed for 70 by Gloucestershire. Passing that ignominious total will be their first target in what will, surely be their last B&H match.

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