BRISTOL

(Day two of four; Essex won toss)

Gloucestershire 72-3, 31 overs (Porterfield 31*, Taylor 14*). Essex 510 all out (Chopra 155, Foster 122, Woodman 4-65).

Lunch

Essex continued to dominate on an overcast second morning, scoring 114 for one wicket in 31.2 overs. Resuming on 68, James Foster drove, angled and hustled his way to his third Championship century of the season. Having reached his 50 off 58 balls yesterday, Foster’s pace slowed and his 100 came off 163 balls with just eight boundaries. He was stuck in the nineties for some time before square driving Jon Lewis for two to reach three figures. After Ravi Bopara, Foster, the Essex wicket-keeper, has been Essex’s best batsmen this season and is again averaging over 50.

Ryan ten Doeschate must be kicking himself for missing out, but he had a second life. After being dropped on 14 he added just one before two overs later he was trapped leg-before by a pumped up Steve Kirby in the fifth over of the morning and 88th of the innings. After Kirby and Lewis, Gloucestershire have nothing. There is no pressure and batsmen bide their time knowing that. It looked depressing for Lewis, the captain, probably coming to the end of his tenure. There is no likelihood of them notching up a first win in the Championship this season.

The one mystery of the morning was why Lewis did not bowl debutant Rob Woodman. Even David Brown, who sprayed his medium pace around again horribly, was bowled ahead of him.

William Porterfield contrived to drop James Middlebrook, on ten, off Anthony Ireland, in the 98th over. Middlebrook drove and Porterfield reached low to his left at second slip, almost in front of Hamish Marshall. Middlebrook made Gloucestershire pay, scoring freely and lifting Richard Dawson for six over long on.

Before the start of play Essex announced that they have finally agreed terms with Grant Flower, the former Zimbabwe all-rounder, who was so instrumental in them winning the Friend’s Provident final. Flower, 37, finished the season strongly in the one-day game and has signed for another year.

Tea

The only thing warming Gloucestershire supporters was the sun, which finally emerged as slate skies cleared in the afternoon. Gloucestershire did so much bowl Essex out for 510 as buy expensive wickets.

The home side did have their best session as they took they got the last four Essex wickets for 68 runs in 16.1 overs. Steve Kirby was at his mean best and got James Foster in the second over after lunch. Foster, 122 off 192 balls, edged a footless drive to gully where William Porterfield held on. Chris Wright cracked 22 off 22 balls and James Middlebrook was last out at 2.30pm for 75 off 117 balls after skying a drive.

Gloucestershire dug in grimly against Essex’s second string attack, which tells you all you need to know about how their top order has struggled this season. Kadeer Ali drove round a straight one and was leg before to Tony Palladino in the ninth over and neither William Porterfield nor Hamish Marshall were middling the ball.

Close

That no one bar a few individuals is really bothered about this game was shown by the umpires coming off for bad light and almost immediately abandoning play for the day and 5.10pm with 15 overs still to bowl. The light quickly improved but Essex were already playing football on the outfield by then.

Essex took two wickets after tea for 38 runs in 17 overs and Gloucestershire are still 289 runs away from the 361 they need to save the follow-on. In the sixth over after tea, an out of sorts Hamish Marshall, stuck on 13, shouldered arms to a straight ball, which clipped his off stump. It gave Jahid Ahmed, 22, his first Championship wicket of the season in his first game.

Five overs later, Rob Woodman, in first innings for the county, looked surprised by the lack of pace from Chris Wright, who had swapped to Ashley Down Road End, and cut limply to point.