Adam Rossington’s century and an unbeaten 83 from Matt Critchley rescued Essex after a false begin to their crunch LV= Insurance County Championship conflict towards Hampshire.
If Essex lose their penultimate recreation this week, Surrey can retain their Division One crown by beating Northamptonshire and Tom Westley’s facet lurched to 132 for 5 after profitable the toss at Chelmsford.
But Rossington, who was averaging 18.8 with the bat this season when he strode to the crease, thumped 10 fours and two sixes, contributing 104 to an necessary 177-run stand with all-rounder Critchley.
Rossington edged a giant swipe late on at Mohammad Abbas, who had earlier castled Sir Alastair Cook for a three-ball duck, however the wicketkeeper’s Essex-best helped his facet gather two batting bonus factors.
Surrey additionally scooped a few factors because of their bowlers, mainly Tom Lawes, who took three for twenty-four as Northamptonshire slid from 106 for 2 to 171 for six on a rain-shortened day on the Kia Oval.
There have been additionally wickets for Jordan Clark, Daniel Worrall and Jamie Overton, who gave Surrey a scare after leaving the sector in his third over feeling his hip earlier than returning to snare Saif Zaib.
Former India batter Karun Nair went to stumps unbeaten on 51 after Northamptonshire have been invited to bat first on a day the place solely 63.4 overs have been attainable.
There have been 4 fewer deliveries however much more motion at Lord’s, the place Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s five-wicket haul restricted struggling Middlesex to a paltry 121 earlier than Warwickshire closed on 72 for 4.
Middlesex began the day two factors above second-bottom Kent and after their batters have been put in and floundered in bowler-friendly situations, the outgoing Tim Murtagh dragged them again into the competition.
The 42-year-old seamer, enjoying on the house of cricket for the final time previous to his retirement from skilled cricket on the finish of the season, took three for 17 as Middlesex took one bowling level.
Kent are bidding to maneuver out of the relegation locations this week however regardless of profitable the toss, Tom Lammonby’s 109 – his first hundred of the season – put Somerset on prime on 214 for 2 after 53.2 overs.
Arafat Bhuiyan was the one frontline Kent bowler to take a wicket on the opening day whereas part-timer Daniel Bell-Drummond atoned for dropping Lammonby on 76 by having the opener caught behind at Taunton.
The inclement climate ruined any prospect of play between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire at Emirates Old Trafford whereas all three Division Two fixtures have been closely impacted by rain.
Sussex, a day on from their 12-point deduction from the England and Wales Cricket Board that has virtually actually ended their promotion hopes, didn’t get on to the sector at Derbyshire.
Leicestershire, recent from their Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory on the weekend, want a win to remain within the hunt for a top-two end and with it a spot in Division One subsequent 12 months.
They diminished Yorkshire to 155 for 9 after bowling first at Grace Road, the place Will Davis completed with 4 for 28 whereas Finlay Bean top-scored with 40 to go previous 1,000 runs for the season.
Second-placed Worcestershire, who started the day 21 factors forward of Leicestershire, reached 104 for one towards already-promoted Durham at New Road.
