A cold and cloudy day in Northampton saw Essex drag themselves firmly back into this match thanks in the most part to Tom Westley’s unbeaten 164.
The Cambridge born right-handed batsman has come through the Essex ranks and looked a cut above any of his county team-mates in this match. The 26-year-old consistently found the middle of the bat playing an array of firm but elegant drives and delicate cut shots, displaying nimble footwork at the crease.
His ninth first-class century and his first for exactly a year came just before tea with yet another glorious cover drive. It had taken him just 122 balls with 18 boundaries.
Northamptonshire’s 168-run lead was knocked off 20 minutes before tea, the afternoon session yielding 133 runs. The Essex lower order, and in particular the usually prolific James Foster, have struggled for runs so far this season, making the partnership for the fourth wicket between Westley and Jesse Ryder a vital one for Essex to stay in this match.
Ryder contained his natural attacking instinct to play the anchor role within the partnership, showing admirable restraint particularly against the off-spin of Rob Keogh. His half-century came from 115 balls with only five boundaries. He did open up more in the evening session with some trademark pulls through mid-wicket and finished the day unbeaten on 90.
It was a long toil in the field for Northamptonshire with a pitch offering very little and with none of the swing that Graham Napier had found early in the morning. Westley and Ryder continued to build throughout the afternoon, their partnership, Essex’s highest of the season, passing 200 towards the close of play. Essex finished the day on 300 for three, leading by 132, with Northamptonshire so out of options that Olly Stone, usually a medium pacer, resorted to bowling leg-breaks.
Northamptonshire had lost their final four wickets within the first hour of play adding just a further 47 to their overnight score. Napier took three of them, finding late swing to dismiss Steven Crook with the eighth delivery of the morning and then Richard Levi, whose spectacular knock of 168 ended when he changed his mind halfway through his shot and looped up an easy catch to James Foster.
Having been in such a commanding position, this match is slipping away from Northamptonshire. The Wantage Road pitch, as it so often does, seems to be getting flatter.
