Colchester (day two of four, Essex won toss)

Essex (282 and 10-0) lead Worcestershire (258) by 34 runs

Lunch

Essex enjoyed the better of the morning session after taking a third Worcestershire wicket off what proved to be the last ball before lunch. It was the very first delivery that Danish Kaneria bowled, Daryl Mitchell being taken at silly point for 20. The first two Worcestershire wickets fell in successive overs, Graham Napier making the breakthrough when he had Stephen Lawe caught at first slip attempting to drive. Vikram Solanki departed for a duck, edging a beauty from David Masters that drew him forward and moved away late. At the interval Ben Smith was undefeated on 28.

At the start of play, Essex had added a further 13 runs for their last wicket with Kabir Ali removing last man Kaneria to finish with excellent figures of 6-83 from 22.5 overs. Ryan Ten Doeschate was left unbeaten on 94 from 102 balls with 17 fours. Kaneria, who was caught behind, contributed 16 from 21 balls out of a useful last wicket stand of 44.

Tea

Essex enjoyed another excellent session between lunch and tea, claiming three more wickets and again taking one with the final ball of the session, just as they had done in the morning.

Significantly, this was Ben Smith, who had played very well for his 74, until he was well caught at short leg off the bowling of James Middlebrook.

An equally significant wicket, that of Graham Hick, came courtesy of a long hop from Chris Wright that the former England batsman cut straight to backward point. Hick and Smith had added 57 in 17 overs for the fourth wicket in convincing fashion.

Next to go was Steven Davies who was brilliantly caught at short extra cover by Ryan Ten Doeschate after attempting to drive Middlebrook.

Smith had reached his 50 off 71 balls with 10 fours when he gave a difficult return catch to Danish Kaneria, who injured a finger while spilling the chance. The Pakistan leg spinner had to leave the field for treatment, and when he returned, he tried once again to bowl but still felt discomfort.

Essex are unclear how much further bowling he will be able to do in the match, but they look set to establish a decent first innings lead over the Division Two leaders.

Close

Essex were held up by the Worcestershire lower order in the final session, the last three wickets adding 76 to restrict the home side’s first innings lead to only 24, but far greater frustration came with the news that Danish Kaneria had sustained a broken spinning finger that may keep him out for the rest of the season. The Pakistan leg spinner went to hospital for an X-ray after damaging the finger when he missed a return catch off Ben Smith, on 51 at the time.

Gareth Batty, with his second 50 of the season, orchestrated the tail-end resistance, being last out for 60 from 103 balls when he was brilliantly caught behind by James Foster, diving full stretch to his right.

Kabir Ali was the first to fall after tea when he was well taken at second slip by Grant Flower off Napier. Flower then broke an eighth-wicket stand of 48 between Batty and Gareth Andrew when he bowled the latter to claim his first wicket of the summer.

Matt Mason was ninth out when David Masters penetrated his defences. Left with four overs to negotiate before stumps, Essex increased their lead by ten without losing a wicket.

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