What a beautiful day to start the new season; a glorious Chelmsford, hot sunshine, a big crowd and a local derby to boot. Not to forget the alcoholic beverages!

As thought, Essex named the same XI that drew with Cambridge, while the visitors XI was that of the predicted team in the match preview.

With the sun baking down on what was sure to be another great track prepared by Stuart Kerrison, the toss was important, as both sides wanted to bat. Unfortunately, it went the wasy of the visitors and they decided on first use.

However, it didn't seem much of a problem, when Jon Dakin accounted an edge from visiting captain Andrew Strauss in the 2nd over of the day and Robinson took the catch in the slips, to leave the seaxes 1-1.

It was an excellent opening spell from Dakin and new boy Scott Brant. Dakes was probably the liviest he's been for Essex and got the ball to zip a number of times and generally looks a fitter man. Brant, on the other hand, isn't particularly quick, but he swung the ball away from the left hander repeatedly and was very accurate without success.

Owais Shah looked in good touch, but then ran himself out, when a long throw in the deep from Brant was superbly whisked in over the top of the stumps, where Fossy did the rest and Shah was on his way back for 13.

That was 24-2 and 4 balls later David Nash's promotion was over, as Dakin trapped him plum in front and he was also walking back to the pavilion for a duck and Middlesex were 24-3.

But the dogged Sven Koenig and classy Ed Joyce lead a revival, with a stand of 58 for the 4th wicket, as the change bowlers of Irani and McGarry had wayward opening spells.

However, Ronnie worked his magic by changing ends to the river end and straight away got Koenig to produce a genuine edge and Foster dived smartly to his right to send the South African back for 42, 82-4.

This spell from Ronnie and Dakin returning at the Hayes Close end saw the hosts take control, as 3 wickets fell for just 4 runs.

Abdur Razzaq scratched for 12 balls, before finally edging at a another good Ronnie delivery, that Fossy took easily to send Razzaq out for the second duck of the innings (84-5), before Jon Dakin clamied his third victim by getting a crucial scalp of Joyce, again, plum in front.

At 86-6, it was going swimmingly for the hosts and at lunch, Middlesex were 95-6 from 33 overs. Nothing wrong with the pitch, it was a belter. But the first session of the new season can be summed up by excellent Essex bowling and poor Middlesex batting.

After lunch, Brant, Dakin and McGarry pitched slightly shorter and Paul Weekes and Ben Hutton took advantage with square cuts for four. They added 38, but Scott Brant got his reward, his first Championship wicket, by trapping Weekes lbw for 31. Again, another plum decision and that was 124-7.

At this point, we were expecting to roll over the Londoner's for around 140, but not so. Hutton added two nagging partnerships with Simon Cook and Chad Keegan to frustrate Essex.

Fortunately, neither of of the type that have seen sides take the match away from us and with Cook and Keegan flashing at anything wide, they were always liable to get out.

Cook with 22 put on 45 for the 8th wicket, while Keegan with 24 added 37 for the 9th and both innings were faster than a run a ball.

Dakin broke things up with the 4th lbw and his 4th wicket, of Cook, although this one looked slightly high. That was 169-8.

After Keegan and Hutton had taken Middlesex past what seemed an unlikely 200, James Middlebrook weaved his spin to have Keegan stumped, again smartly, by Foster after charging and missing an attempted slog and last man Joe Dawes edged into his pads and it flew to Jeffers at slip to go for 2 and although more than first expected, bowling out Middlesex for 214 after 59 overs was a lot more than we could have hoped for after they won the toss.

Ben Hutton ended on 45 not out, while Jon Dakin was brilliantly, recording 18-3-57-4. Ronnie, on the button as ever, with 2-43 from 14 and James Middlebrook just the 5 overs, 2-12. Scott Brant bowled well for his 1-50 from 13 overs, but Andrew McGarry was off-colour, going for 48 off 9. His new shortened run-up didn't seem to work today.

Tea at this stage, with 45 overs remaining in the day, was taken and after, the players returned with Essex going out to bat and Robinson and Jefferson looking for a good start.

And how, as the pair hit some loose bowling all around Chelmsford, to open up with 104 for the first wicket.

The 50 partnership was up inside 9 overs and the 100 after 19. It was fantastic viewing and a real pleasure to watch two classy batsman at full flight.

Will Jefferson just get's better and better and hit 56 as many balls, with 12 elegant fours. He only pushed at half of them, but they raced away on a lightning outfield and the powerful drives he also played were of England class.

Middlesex were ragged, but to be fair, stuck at it and Joe Dawes got his first Championship wicket, by bowling Jeffers with a ball that cut back in to knock over his stumps. Still, 104-1 was a perfect platform.

And Darren Robinson took over the mantle, by cutting loose himself now on anything wide and he played some signature shots that we've become use to, drives, pulls and leg-glances.

Disapointing though, was Paul Grayson and Andy Flower (who received a big ovation when he strolled to the crease) making just 7 each. Razzaq's first ball from the river end, after changing ends, got Grayson pulling and under-edging through to Nash, 128-2.

Larry and Robbo added 24 and Flower and Robbo 20, before Flower edged at a wide delivery from Cook and Shah took a good catch at second slip, at a height you love in the slips. The former Zimbabwean Test star looked fantastic and was unfortunate to be dismissed.

That was 148-3 and James Middlebrook came in as night watch-man and batted to the close with no troubles with 4 not out.

Darren Robinson moved onto 83 from 140 balls (14 fours) but didn't last to the end, going bowled by Cook, 163-4. Excellent knock though.

Just one more run was added, as Aftab Habib was the man next in and Essex finished on 164-4, just 50 behind with still 6 wickets left.

Excellent start to the season. After Strauss won the toss and batted, if you had said to me at 11am Middlesex wuld be 214 all out and we'd be only 50 behind with still Ronnie, Fossy and Dakes to come, as well as Affy and Midders at the crease, I'd have taken it. However, after having them 86-6 and losing Flower and Robinson late on, it was a little disappointing we couldn't really punish Middlesex and that they came a bit back into the match, but it's only the first day of the season and we're still firmly in control. If we can get a lead of around 100-120 and then bowl well again, then hopefully a first win will be the result. Let's hope the weather holds?!

Will Jefferson - Hard one to call, because it was an excellent team day and Dakes and Robbo were impressive, but the tall opener just keeps improving and looks classy to boot.

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Date: 18/4/03

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