Essex v Hampshire - Day Three Close of Play report

Essex finished the third day holding a lead of 122 runs with six second innings wickets intact. Trailing Hampshire by 9 runs on first innings, the home side finished the day 131-4 thanks to a splendid unbeaten half-century from Tom Westley although the fall of that fourth wicket was disappointing for the hosts who lost James Foster in the final over. Hampshire had eventually been dismissed for 354 with Jimmy Adams striking 169 but the visitors total was boosted by 49 extras of which 24 came from no balls

 

Resuming after tea, Westley and Mark Pettini continued their efforts to revive the innings that had seen the first two wickets fall with Essex still in arrears and the pair played responsibly to address the parlous state of their side.

 

Twenty-one year-old Westley, showing delightful back foot play, was rewarded for his mature approach and application with a well-earned half-century having faced 68 balls that embraced nine boundaries.

 

However, he then went into subdued mode taking 41 balls to add his next run after reaching 52 and overall taking an hour and 20 minutes to advance from 50 to 53.

Pettini too played with caution facing 60 deliveries before getting into double figures but he offered a responsible foil to his partner’s enterprising display.

 

The duo’s third wicket liaison had realised 80 runs when Pettini drove a ball from David Griffiths but fell victim to a juggling catch by Michael Carberry in the gully and departed for 23 having batted for an hour and 50 minutes.

 

With Matt Walker unable to bat until the fall of the fifth wicket because of his absence from the field due to a thigh injury during the Hampshire innings, James Foster strode out to accompany Westley and soon saw the total into three figures.

 

Of the six bowlers used by Nic Pothas, it was fast bowler Kabir Ali who looked the most impressive passing the bat of both Westley and Foster on occasions but both batsmen took full opportunities to exploit the less worthy delivery to good effect.

 

Then, with the close beckoning, Foster pulled the second ball of the final over and bowled by Griffiths, into the hands of Chris Benham at deep square leg having contributed 27 out of the 45 runs for the fourth wicket.

 

Play is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 11.00 a.m.  

 

Scoreboard: Essex 345 & 131-4 from 50.2 overs, Westley 69 not out. 

Essex 5 bonus points, Hampshire 6 bonus points