BOLTON all-rounder Ronnie Irani underlined his England claims by scoring his second century in three seasons to help Essex clinch a five-wicket Britannic Assurance Championship victory over Worcestershire.

Irani, expected to be promoted into the Test side this summer after a successful A tour during the winter, made 119 at the same New Road ground in 1994.

Yesterday he hit an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls to rescue Essex after they suffered an alarming collapse, chasing 187 for victory off 43 overs.

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