CHELMSFORD

(Day three of four, Warwickshire won toss)

Essex 341 and 125 for 1 (R S Bopara 81 not out); Warwickshire 514 for 9 declared (T Frost 242 not out, I J L Trott 81)

Lunch

Tony Frost continued to anchor Warwickshire’s first innings with great dedication to his team’s cause, after resuming on 121 in an overnight total of 277 for 3, but Essex fought hard to stay in the match as James Middlebrook took two wickets in successive balls to dismiss Jim Troughton and Tim Ambrose.

Chris Woakes, the nightwatchman, was dropped by John Maunders at second slip from the fourth ball of the morning but went on to score a valuable 22 and help to take Warwickshire past 300 and a third batting point.

When he edged a fine ball from Chris Wright to James Foster, the wicketkeeper, Troughton came in to cover drive his first ball for four and contribute a spritely 24 before top-edging a sweep to short fine leg.

Ambrose fell next ball, taken smartly off bat and pad at silly point by Ryan ten Doeschate, but Frost ground on in determined fashion, turning Tony Palladino off his pads for two to go past his previous career-best of 144.

He then completed his 150, off 339 balls with 19 balls, and found a dependable new partner in Rikki Clarke as Warwickshire collected a fourth batting point and reached lunch with a lead of 44.

Tea

Frost’s innings became an epic effort as Essex endured another long session in the field, with the 32-year old completing a double-century of massive stamina as Warwickshire built a significant lead.

Rikki Clarke made 41, helping Frost to add 107 for the seventh wicket before he was lbw to Ten Doeschate as he aimed across the line.

Ten Doeschate also removed Ian Salisbury for 16, with one which nipped back off the seam, but Frost was then joined by Boyd Rankin in a further stand which by tea had added 29 and taken Warwickshire past 500.

Frost, dropped by Chris Wright on 239 when he skied Ravi Bopara to deep mid wicket, was 240 not out at the interval – the highest score ever made by a Warwickshire player against Essex. He had hit 30 fours from 461 balls, plus a sweetly-struck pick-up six off Bopara.

Close

Only two runs were added after tea, both scored by Frost, before Warwickshire finally declared at the fall of Rankin’s wicket, bowled by Bopara.

The Warwickshire lead was 173 and the early dismissal of Jason Gallian, beaten off the pitch by Woakes and adjudged lbw without scoring, gave the visitors hope of putting Essex under more pressure in the final session.

Jonathan Trott, however, then dropped Bopara on 21 at first slip, off Darren Maddy’s medium pace, with the total on 35, and Warwickshire were made to pay a heavy price as Bopara counter-attacked in the final hour.

By stumps, with John Maunders supporting him grittily on 38, Bopara had accelerated on to 81 from 95 balls, with 14 fours, and Essex were just 48 runs behind.