Somerset remain in the ascendancy on day two
A half century from James Rew and a stunning opening burst from Lewis Gregory ensured that Somerset remained on top in this Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Essex at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Rew claimed his sixth Championship half century of the campaign as Somerset scored 469 before Gregory took three early wickets as the home side stamped their authority on the game.
Essex were dismissed for 158 and forced to follow-on. By the close of play the visitors were 59 without loss, training by 252.
The home side resumed on 348 for five with a big score very much in their sights.
The third batting point (for 350 runs) arrived from the final ball of the opening over of the day, but two quick wickets fell as the visiting bowlers sought to rein in their hosts.
Jake Ball (3) was bowled by Sam Cook before Archie Vaughan (0) fell to Jamie Porter in similar fashion, and all of a sudden Somerset were 353 for seven.
However, Gregory joined Rew in the middle and the pair treated those present to an array of glorious stroke-play to take their side towards 400.
The charge to the fourth batting point was halted when Gregory was trapped lbw by Shane Snater for 11 at 382 for eight in the 109th over.
Undeterred, Rew accrued his 4000th First Class run when he reached 40, and his 17th First Class half century for Somerset arrived from 89 balls.
Leach (5) miscued Cook to Porter with the score on 397 but the scoreboard ticked over to 400 in the 115th over.
Rew was joined by Migael Pretorius who made an entertaining run-a-ball 48 before becoming the final wicket to fall as Somerset posted a first innings total of 469, with Rew unbeaten on 74.
Somerset exploded out of the blocks after the break with Gregory opening up with a double wicket maiden.
Dean Elgar was the first to fall. The second ball of the innings was a beauty and he was trapped in front before Tom Westley wafted at his second delivery and was caught behind.
Gregory’s second over saw him bowl Charlie Allison with a brilliant delivery that nipped back in off the seam to leave the visitors in disarray at two for three.
Essex desperately needed a partnership and Matt Critchley and Paul Walter duly obliged. The pair took their side to 50 in the 11th over before raising their half century stand from just 52 deliveries
Walter received a life on 34 with the total on 76 when he was dropped on the boundary after picking out the fielder following a short delivery from Ball. The trap was set, the trap was sprung but the Essex batter escaped unscathed.
There was concern amongst the Somerset ranks when, with the score on 88, Gregory was slow to get up following a tumbling stop in the deep. Somerset’s talisman remained on the field after treatment but looked to be in considerable discomfort.
The Essex 100 arrived from the opening delivery of an eventful 23rd over, a no ball which Walter drove to the boundary, but Ball got his revenge when the same batter clipped him straight to Leach at mid wicket. The partnership was worth 102.
Critchley reached his 50 from 72 balls but the very next delivery saw Leach trap Noah Thain plumb lbw for 10 at 117 for five.
By tea, the score had moved to 129 without further loss.
Vaughan opened the bowling in the evening session and struck with his fourth delivery, trapping Critchley (50) lbw as the Essex batter looked to sweep.
129 for six soon became 134 for seven when turn and bounce from Leach invited Simon Harmer into the shot but the leading edge picked out Lewis Goldsworthy. When Snater edged Leach through to Rew, the scoreboard was displaying 138 for eight.
Cook was bowled by Leach without scoring and when Pepper (35) picked out Henry Nicholls at mid-off Essex were all out for 158.
The follow-on was then enforced.
With Gregory still hobbling, Pretorius and Ball were thrown the new ball.
Elgar, on 12, offered the first opportunity of the second innings but Ball was unable to hold the sharp return chance.
The Essex openers continued to frustrate the home attack and took their side to 50 in the 18th over.
