Resuming on 60-0, 174 runs ahead Middlesex went out looking to set Essex a tricky target. 

Chris Wright opened the bowling alongside David Masters and Chris Wright was looking a much improved bowler than when at Middlesex. The first boundary took a while to come but in the 7^th over it finally did courtesy of a thick edge over the slips by Strauss. Strauss then pulled Wright away for four 2 balls later. 

Masters was replaced by Kaneria in the 10^th over. Strauss brought up his 50 with an elegant hook off Wright an over later, Strauss’s 50 coming off 104 balls. 

Strauss continued to show his class with two beautiful drives, one straight and one through extra cover. This brought up the 100 and also saw Wright have a blow and be replaced by Masters who came back at the other end. 

Kaneria meanwhile seemed to be bowling a tab too flat and quick and Strauss used his feet to good work to dispatch him for a flurry of boundaries. The first real chance of the day came off Masters. Compton mistimed a pull shot, but Chopra somehow put down a dolly at mid wicket. 

The expensive Kaneria was removed, and was replaced by Chambers, but as the sun broke through the clouds and the blue sky appeared the runs continued to flow. The breakthrough did arrive though and came through Masters, trapping Compton lbw for a good 44. Chambers then broke through minutes before lunch bowling Strauss 3 short of his hundred and the score was 152-2. Robson was joined by Dexter and they saw it through to lunch. 

Score at lunch: Middx 156-2, Lead of 270 

Middlebrook came on after lunch replacing the ineffective Kaneria, but to peoples amazement it was not long before Kaneria was switched ends. 

Dexters authentic straight blade and Robson’s cute flicks took the score past 200 before Kaneria struck trapping Robson on the crease for 23. 

Malan joined Dexter but that was short lived as his poor form continued edging to Cook off Kaneria for 3. The score was 213-4. Nash came to the crease and also looked out of form surviving two early dropped catches, 1 being another from Chopra. 

Dexter then got a poor decision and was out lbw to Kaneria for 42, the lead now being 346. From being very ineffective Kaneria was now becoming affective and Gareth Berg was next to go caught and bowled for 9. 

Nash and the big hitting Udal took the score onto 297 before Nash was caught behind for 26 and Shaun Udal declared with a lead of 414. 

Essex replied with Cook and Gallian, and the both started well before the fired up Finn continued his good form bowling Gallian. 33-1. Chopra then played on for a duck from Finn again compounding a bad day all round for him. 

Kartik, Berg and Udal all came on late on and all bowled well with no luck. Cook survived late on but himself and Walker made it to the close without too much fuss. 

Essex require another 336 tomorrow with 8 wickets intact but with rain forecast a draw looks extremely likely now. 
 

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