Lancashire’s struggles continued as they found themselves trailing Essex by a commanding 221 runs at the close of play on day two of their Vitality County Championship clash at Chelmsford.
Essex captain Tom Westley led the charge for the hosts, scoring a fluent 81 to help his side post a formidable 377 in their first innings. Westley’s innings, which included 10 fours, marked a return to form for the batsman after a slow start to the season.
Lancashire’s bowlers toiled hard but were unable to make significant inroads into the Essex batting lineup. Nightwatchman Sam Cook played a crucial role, scoring 49 and frustrating the visitors for over two hours. Dean Elgar also contributed with a solid 79, while Jordan Cox and Michael Pepper made valuable contributions.
Lancashire’s reply got off to a shaky start as captain Keaton Jennings was dismissed for a duck, leaving the visitors reeling at 10-1. Nightwatchman Will Williams survived a dropped catch but will resume on day three with the daunting task of rebuilding the innings.
Essex’s bowlers, led by Jamie Porter, were disciplined and accurate, making it difficult for Lancashire’s batsmen to score freely. The visitors will need a monumental effort on day three to avoid an innings defeat.
