What a change! The summer looked to have arrived early yesterday, with temperatures reaching the 20's and glorious sunshine. Too good to be true, as today, spring returned and the temperature barely got above 10oc and the conditions were cloudy all day.

It didn't detract from another day's entertaining cricket, as Essex began the day on 164-4, looking to carry on Friday's good work.

This was done, as night-watchman James Middlebrook and Aftab Habib built up a 5th wicket stand of 52 and in the process, take Essex one run past the oppo'.

Midders has turned from a bowler who can bat a bit into more of an all-rounder since his time at Essex, especially in the last month and showed again his batting skills, with a 77 ball 36, which contained 5 fours.

However, he was 5th man out with the score on 215, as Chad Keegan, who bowled poorly on day 1, had him caught by Paul Weekes.

The aim would have been to have produced a lead of something between 100-120 and with Ronnie Irani now at the crease, this was possible.

'Captain Marvel' set about this in his usual style, while Habib was happy to play safe at the other end.

The pair combined for an excellent 76 run partnership for the 6th wicket and when Habib fell for a patient 34 (106 balls), lbw to Paul Weekes, Essex were 77 runs ahead at 291-6 with still Fossy and Big Jon Dakin to come.

Ronnie went to his half century by lunch and in making 69 lasted 98 balls and hit 1 six and 8 fours. After sharing 29 with Fossy to take Essex past 300 and the lead past 100, the legend fell lbw to Razzaq and Essex were 320-7 and the lead was 106.

James Foster looked in good touch again too and he and Dakin added 36 useful runs, before bad light stopped play at 3:15pm. And with the conditions not improving, that was it for the day and the umpires called off proceedings at 5:00pm.

Fossy was unbeaten on 32 (57 balls, 5 fours), while Dakin finished on 10 not out, as Essex closed at 356-7 from exactly 100 overs and more importantly, a lead of 142.

Just to add more misery for the visitors, Simon Cook had the unfortunate status of going for over 100 runs, 105 infact and off only 22 overs, that's a third of our runs!

So, a lead which is more than we could have hoped for, sees only one possible result in this match. The good thing, is that tomorrow's forecast is better than first expected and now sunny intervals with a max temp of 12oC is forecasted, which can only be good. Monday is the day which could now see the showers, but by then, this game could be over. If Fossy and Dakes can take the lead up to somewhere around 180, we should be able to get into them before lunch and finish off the job. The only way out for the seaxes is for them to bat the best part of two days to save the match, an achievement on the first innings looks beyond them. Only the weather can prevent Essex from starting off the season with a bang.

Ronnie Irani - Continuing last season's fine form and giving Essex a major upper hand in this match.

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Date: 19/4/03

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