Essex close on 271-6 as Somerset fight back after tea
Essex opener Cook out for brilliant 172
Somerset made 301 all out in first innings
Team with best first-innings score wins trophy if game drawn
Somerset 301 v Essex 216-4
Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's
While wickets have been falling at the other end since tea, Alastair Cook is now also the leading run-scorer in the competition with more than 500.
Worcestershire's Jake Libby had that honour before today.
Image source, Getty ImagesCook 142, ten Doeschate 0
Alastair Cook is cleverly keeping the strike at the moment as he takes another single to end Jack Leach's 14th over.
It's been some innings from the 35-year-old.
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra
Both of these sides have whistled through the overs in a manner that you don't often see at Test level.
Cook 141, ten Doeschate 0
Alastair Cook continues to look untroubled as he pumps Lewis Gregory to the point boundary for his 23rd four.
He then steals the strike with a single to end the over.
Cook 136, ten Doeschate 0
Alastair Cook takes a single off Jack Leach's over and then survives Lewis Gregory's hat-trick ball.
Cook 135, ten Doeschate 0
Ryan ten Doeschate took a while to come out there, was probably still strapping on his pads.
Jack Leach will continue to Alastair Cook.
Walter lbw b Gregory 0 (Essex 208-4)
Image source, Getty ImagesGONE FIRST BALL!
Lewis Gregory fires one in to Paul Walter's pads from around the wicket and he's caught in front. Out.
Gregory is on a hat-trick but it's the end of the over so he'll have to wait...
Lawrence c Lammonby b Gregory 6 (Essex 208-3)
Image source, Getty ImagesNow then... Essex are just wobbling slightly here.
Dan Lawrence miscues a pull shot off Lewis Gregory and it loops to Tom Lammonby at square leg.
The deficit is still 93 and Somerset have hope.
Here's a glimpse of the new Compton and Edrich stands either side of the Lord's Media Centre. Once they're done it'll take the capacity north of 31,000.
At the moment of course, the capacity is zero.
Image source, Getty ImagesCook 135, Lawrence 4
Maiden from Jack Leach.
Alastair Cook displays fine defensive technique just to remind Somerset that he's not going anywhere.
Cook 135, Lawrence 4
Dan Lawrence is up and running.
The right-hander knocks Lewis Gregory off his pads for a couple and then punches him through the off side for another two.
Essex's deficit goes below 100.
Cook 135, Lawrence 0
Alastair Cook pulls Lewis Gregory away for one and that brings up Essex's 200.
Tom Westley may have gone straight after tea, but Essex are still in control.
Somerset 301 v Essex 199-2
Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's
When Alastair Cook reached 134 not out, that single off Jack Leach took him to 24,161 first-class runs in his career.
Might not mean much in isolation, but during the course of this innings he has moved up to 141st on the all-time career run-scorers list.
Since coming into bat this morning, he's overtaken Steve Waugh, Ray Illingworth, Ricky Ponting and now Sadiq Mohammad.
Some decent names in that batting line-up.
Cook 134, Lawrence 0
Another single to Alastair Cook and that's the only run off Jack Leach's over of spin.
The sun continues to shine at Lord's, the wind continues to howl. Difficult conditions for the bowlers.
Cook 133, Lawrence 0
Alastair Cook flicks Lewis Gregory for a single off his hips before Dan Lawrence sees out the rest of the over.
Essex still trail by 103, this game is not done by any stretch.
Varun Chopra
Essex batsman on BBC 5 Radio Live Sports Extra
That was against the run of play, Tom Westley battled so hard during that afternoon session, grinded out 50 and he really looked like he was applying himself looking to bat the whole day.
It almost looked like it done him for lack of pace, it was a very slow delivery and he just didn't quite get his timing right on it.
He'll be bitterly disappointed but it'll give Somerset a lift.
Cook 132, Lawrence 0
Somerset couldn't have asked for a better start to this evening session. Will that spark something special?
Dan Lawrence has joined Alastair Cook at the crease.
Westley c Abell b Lammonby 51 (Essex 197-2)
Somerset fight back!
Tom Westley clips his first ball after tea to mid-wicket and Tom Abell takes a fine low catch. That's Tom Lammonby's second first-class wicket!
Well, well...
Image source, Rex FeaturesCook 131, Westley 51
They're ready to go after tea.
Can Essex all but close out this match with another dominant session? Or will Somerset fight back?
Tom Lammonby will continue with the ball...
Thanks Adam.
If Somerset can prise out Alastair Cook early in this session and take a few quick wickets, you never know.
Even if they keep Essex to around 350, they've still got a chance of building a decent lead in the second innings.
It all depends on this session really...