Essex make it to the close without mishap

Essex will need a further 332 runs if they are to beat county champions Surrey when play resumes tomorrow although they do have all their second innings wickets intact.

The home side had declared at tea on 206-5 to set their opponents an unlikely target of 405 runs for victory although Paul Prichard and Paul Grayson batted sensibly through the 32 overs of the evening session to reach 73 without loss at the close.

There was some surprise when Alec Stewart decided not to enforce the follow-on after his side had mopped up the last three Essex first innings wickets in the first hour of play for the addition of 35 runs to the overnight score.

Stuart Law guided his side to their third batting point as he reached 150 that included 21 boundaries but with his score on 153, he became one of two wickets for leg-spinner Ian Salisbury as the home side gained a first innings lead of 198 runs.

Opting for further runs, Surrey lost Ian Ward for 3 when the opener had his middle stump knocked back by Andrew McGarry but Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash added 100 for the second wicket before Peter Such took a firm control on proceedings for Essex.

The off-spinner bowled unchanged from the pavilion end throughout the afternoon session and was rewarded with four wickets.

Butcher, having completed a second half-century in the match, was well caught at deep mid-on before the wily 36 year-old bowler lured Ramprakash - who had just reached his fifty - and Ali Brown down the wicket to be stumped by the impressive James Foster.

Ben Holliaoke was another Such scalp, edging indecisively forward to give Foster another victim. That gave the bowler wicket to wicket figures of 4-36 before Stewart declared at tea.