The students won the toss and put Essex in and would have been regretting that decision as Darren Robinson and Paul Grayson put on 81 for the first wicket. However, the introduction of leg spinner Simon Marshall brought the end of Robbo's slow knock of 26.

Andy Flower then came to the crease, but could only make 20 on his debut, this time Savill the wicket-taker, having the Zimbabwean bowled, after he and Grayson were one short of a 50 partnership for the second wicket.

But more runs came along between Grayson and Habib. Larry reached his fifty just before lunch, then after that, both started to cut loose, adding 77 for wicket number 3. Grayson went to a superb hundred, but when on 105 he was tricked down the track by Marshall again and was stumped, after facing only 146 balls and hitting 11 fours.

At 207-3 Essex continued with the run-getting as Irani came in and with Habib put on 65 for the 4th wicket. Affy went to another Essex fifty, but was next out, as Marshall again worked his trickery, Habib making 64 from 92 balls.

Essex coasted to 296-4 but then Irani went to a run-out which sparked a collapse of 3 wickets for only 21 runs. Irani made an unusually slow 37 before Clinton (19) and Middlebrook (2) gave Marshall his fourth and fifth wickets, then at 339-7 Cowan (10) was bowled to give Marshall his sixth. In total, Marshall took 6-128 a decent effort off 33 overs.

A late rally of 31 unbeaten for the 9th wicket between Jon Dakin (34* in just 36 balls with 2 sixes) and Andrew McGarry (11*) took Essex to 370-8 from 91 overs, at which point, Irani declared to leave the students 12 overs to survive.

They didn't, as Cambridge trundled along to 17-1 by the close, with McGarry picking up the wicket of Simcox bowled, before the day's play came to an end.