Cook and Browne rewrite Essex records
At Chelmsford Middlesex (246 & 27-0) trail Essex (542-3dec) by 271 runs
Alastair Cook hit 193 and Nick Browne 221 in a record first-wicket stand of 373 against champions Middlesex on day three of Essex’s day-night Specsavers County Championship match.
And, as daylight turned to twilight, Varun Chopra set up the hosts’ declaration with a big-hitting 100 not out from 75 balls, which included six sixes, all off Ollie Rayner. Essex declared on 542 for three, setting Middlesex 296 just to make the Division One leaders bat again.
Openers Nick Gubbins and Nick Compton survived a torrid 13 overs under the floodlights against Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter, but the visitors must bat resolutely throughout the final day to avoid a second defeat in three games.
It was Cook’s third century of the season – two runs short of his highest Championship score – while, for Browne, it was the first hundred of a campaign that started slowly but is moving into overdrive. The partnership was ended after 6½ hours, just before tea, when Cook pushed forward to Rayner and was snaffled by Stevie Eskinazi at slip. Cook had faced 280 balls and hit 26 fours.
Cook, dropped on 48 on Monday evening, survived another scare even before play started when James Foster parried the ball into his face during catching practice. Cook fell to his knees, and stayed there for several minutes while medical staff checked his jaw. However, he was back in the middle 35 minutes later to resume his innings.
Browne had a let-off on 46 when he slashed at Toby Roland-jones and Steven Finn dropped a relatively easy chance at third slip. Browne took advantage and reached his fourth Championship fifty in five innings. Cook brought up his century, including 17 fours, off 134 balls.
When the stand reached 372 the duo beat the total for any wicket in an Essex-middlesex fixture, the previous mark set by Mike Gatting and Justin Langer at Southgate in 1998. Browne reached his century, from 240 balls, by hitting Paul Stirling through deep extra cover for four.
A two to midwicket by Browne off Higgins took the pair beyond 316 – the previous all-time highest Essex opening stand, set by Graham Gooch and Paul Prichard against Kent on the same ground in 1994.
The attack continued as Browne reached his 150 from 323 balls – the double hundred came from 368 balls. His 7½-hour stay ended when he was caught in the covers.