Essex batters Dean Elgar, Tom Westley, and Matt Critchley dominated the third day of their match against Surrey at Chelmsford, piling up a mammoth 508 for 8 declared. The trio notched up centuries, leaving Surrey with a daunting task of chasing down a 478-run deficit.
Elgar, despite an injured left calf, led the charge with a patient 182, his highest score for Essex this season. He shared a record-breaking 253-run partnership with Westley, who exploded for 135 runs, including 25 fours and a six. Critchley joined the century-making party with a fluent 112 from 171 balls.
Surrey’s bowlers struggled to contain the Essex onslaught, with James Taylor and Yousef Majid bearing the brunt of the punishment. Majid, making his first-class debut, claimed two wickets, including Westley’s dismissal. However, Essex’s middle order collapsed briefly, with Ryan Patel taking three wickets in seven balls.
Critchley reached his century and became the third centurion of the day, but Taylor and Shane Snater struck late to bring about the declaration. Surrey’s chase got off to a poor start as captain Rory Burns was caught at point off Simon Harmer, leaving them 30 for 1 at the close of play.
Essex now need 17 points from the game to finish ahead of Somerset in third place. They have already secured the maximum five points for batting and must bowl Surrey out twice on the final day to secure the victory.
