India's left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan [Images] destroyed Essex with a nine-wicket haul in the first innings of the County Championship Division Two match in Chelmsford, on Thursday.

Khan, playing for Worcestershire, took all nine Essex wickets to fall and finished finish the day with career-best figures of 9 for 65 in 21.3 overs.

The 27-year-old bowler has been in good form for the county side and is the leading wicket-taker in Division Two.

Essex were reeling at 186 for 9 in reply to Worcestershire's huge first innings score of 650 for 7 declared in the four-day match.

Varun Chopra was the top scorer for Essex with 53 as they collapsed from 117 for no loss to 186 for 9 at close of play on the second day.

Earlier, Gareth Batty completed a century (112 off 135 balls) to take Worcestershire past the 600-run mark. Australian Phil Jaques stole the show with a commanding innings of 244.

Khan said he would be looking to complete the 10-wicket haul tomorrow.

"I did start to think about taking all 10 wickets once the eighth wicket fell and it would be marvellous to achieve that - but the main thing is that Worcestershire are in a strong position.

"It would be nice though to get that final wicket in the morning," he said after the day's play."