Essex battle in follow-on as Leach, Gregory tighten Somerset's grip

Key Highlights

• 10ReportVisitors face uphill battle as spinners get a grip of contest at TauntonJack Leach was in the wickets as Essex collapsed • Harry Trump/Getty ImagesEssex 158 (Critchley 50, Leach 4-37) and 59 for 0 trail Somerset 469 (Thomas 110, Nicholls 96, Rew 74*, Abell 65, Cook 4-92) by 252 runsJames Rew passed 4,000 first class runs at the tender age of 22 as Somerset strengthened their bid for a first ever Rothesay County Championship title with an impressive second day performance against Essex at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.
• The prolific young wicketkeeper-batter finished unbeaten on 74 having helped his side extend their first innings total from an overnight 348 for five to 469 all out on a pitch offering assistance to seam and spin.
• Lewis Gregory then claimed three wickets with his first eight balls at the start of an Essex reply that saw them slump to 158 all out, Matt Critchley top-scoring with 50, Paul Walter contributing 48 and Jack Leach returning four for 37.
• Their grip tightened when Gregory began the afternoon session by pinning Elgar lbw and having Tom Westley caught behind chasing a wide one in the first over of the Essex innings.
• Essex began the day by bowling better than on the first morning, Cook removing nightwatchman Jake Ball and Leach, while Jamie Porter and Shane Snater sent back Archie Vaughan and Gregory respectively as Somerset fell short of a fourth batting bonus point.

Edition PKDay 2 - Essex trail by 252 runs.

Current RR: 3.

10ReportVisitors face uphill battle as spinners get a grip of contest at TauntonJack Leach was in the wickets as Essex collapsed • Harry Trump/Getty ImagesEssex 158 (Critchley 50, Leach 4-37) and 59 for 0 trail Somerset 469 (Thomas 110, Nicholls 96, Rew 74*, Abell 65, Cook 4-92) by 252 runsJames Rew passed 4,000 first class runs at the tender age of 22 as Somerset strengthened their bid for a first ever Rothesay County Championship title with an impressive second day performance against Essex at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

The prolific young wicketkeeper-batter finished unbeaten on 74 having helped his side extend their first innings total from an overnight 348 for five to 469 all out on a pitch offering assistance to seam and spin.

Sam Cook claimed four for 92.

Lewis Gregory then claimed three wickets with his first eight balls at the start of an Essex reply that saw them slump to 158 all out, Matt Critchley top-scoring with 50, Paul Walter contributing 48 and Jack Leach returning four for 37.

Following on 311 behind, the visitors made a better fist of things and closed on 59 without loss, Dean Elgar (30) and Walter (29) having reduced the deficit to 252.

Essex began the day by bowling better than on the first morning, Cook removing nightwatchman Jake Ball and Leach, while Jamie Porter and Shane Snater sent back Archie Vaughan and Gregory respectively as Somerset fell short of a fourth batting bonus point.

At 397 for nine, the hosts had added just 49 for the loss of four wickets.

But Migael Pretorius then joined Rew in a last-wicket stand of 72 that frustrated the Essex attack and led to a delayed lunch.

Rew, unbeaten on 21 overnight, blossomed from a testing start and gradually found his timing.

An edged four to third man took him to 40 and the 4,000-run milestone, which has included 12 centuries.

His fifty occupied 89 balls and featured 8 fours.

Pretorius was positive from the outset of his innings and by the time he fell leg before for 48, playing no shot to a Critchley googly, Somerset had reestablished a position of considerable strength.

Report

Their grip tightened when Gregory began the afternoon session by pinning Elgar lbw and having Tom Westley caught behind chasing a wide one in the first over of the Essex innings. When he followed up by bowling Charlie Allison with the second ball of his second over, the visitors were two for three.

Originally reported by ESPN Cricinfo. TechVeb news desk.