Chopra puts Essex on the brink of title as Lancashire hopes fade
Opener grinds out 98 to amass first-innings lead Somerset spinners turn screws on Lancashire
well did Essex bat against Warwickshire yesterday, and so badly did Lancashire bat against Somerset, that Essex simply have to win their game to take the County Championship title, provided Lancashire – as seems highly likely – go on to lose at Taunton.
Essex, resuming at 69 without loss at Edgbaston, batted almost all day before declaring at 369 for nine, which left the home side to reduce the deficit by two runs to 161. Essex missed out on one batting bonus point by not reaching 400 in 110 overs, but bonus points are becoming superfluous: all Essex have to do is polish off Warwickshire, while Somerset, highly motivated to remain in the first division, do the same to Lancashire.
The influence of two world-class cricketers made itself felt as Essex headed towards their eighth victory of this season, to set against no defeat. First it was Alastair Cook, even though he was not playing at Edgbaston, only watching. For all his commitments to England, Cook has been Essex’s leading centurymaker with three this season, and in the process has demonstrated to his younger team-mates – new to the first division – how to bat long.
Cook’s replacement as Essex opening batsman, Varun Chopra, ground out 98 over four hours to become the bedrock of the innings. Chopra was all the keener on a second century this season because he had been released by Warwickshire last year.
Tom Westley could have done with a century, too, but was caught behind fishing well outside off stump at Chris Woakes – a reflection of his uncertainty – for 28. A Test batsman plays to his strengths and camouflages the weaknesses he inevitably has but Westley, after the extensive examination of his technique in the course of five Tests, may be doing neither. Dan Lawrence, only 20 yet averaging over 40, might prove to be the real deal, though. He shared a thirdwicket stand of 92 with Chopra and went on to 72.
Essex’s lower order was sustained by their second world-class cricketer, James Foster, who scored 68. Being a world-class wicketkeeper was no guarantee of many Test caps in an era redefined by Adam Gilchrist, so Foster played only five Tests, but in his first-class career he has averaged 37; and while Alec Stewart, Geraint Jones, Matt Prior, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow may have surpassed him with the bat, Foster has surpassed them all with the deftness of his glovework and footwork.
Foster reached his 50 off only 68 balls, helping himself on the back foot as Warwickshire – even Woakes with the second new ball – pitched too short. With his quick hands he cut and pulled, and used his feet to Jeetan Patel, who did not get so much turn out of the pitch as Essex’s off-spinner Simon Harmer had done on day one and may do again on day three, when Warwickshire have no realistic hope of averting demotion.
At Taunton, Lancashire were forced to follow on 202 runs behind after collapsing against Somerset’s spinners, the left-armer Jack Leach who took five wickets for 47 and the off-spinner Dom Bess. None the worse for reconditioning his bowling action after the England and Wales Cricket Board had found that his original one was illegal last winter, Leach has inspired a late surge by Somerset that may yet save them from relegation.
Lancashire reached 28 without loss in their second innings, with Haseeb Hameed – intent on another long innings to revive his England career – surviving until stumps after he had top-edged a pull to be dismissed for four off 56 balls in his first innings. As he coped with India’s spinners last winter, Hameed is likelier than most to defy Somerset second time round.
If Somerset win this game they will transfer a lot of the pressure on to Yorkshire and last year’s champions Middlesex, neither of whom look to be in a position to win in the current round, with two more matches to go. In their last game, Somerset face Middlesex at Taunton and could be in a position to take revenge for last season, when Middlesex – after negotiating a declaration with Yorkshire – pipped Somerset, who had never won the title, to the championship.