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
Cook 61, Westley 30
Back-to-back boundaries from Alastair Cook off his legs off Lewis Gregory take Essex past 100. Ten fours to Cook's name now in this innings.
Essex bring up the team ton off 236 balls. Their deficit now below 200.
Cook 53, Westley 30
Still no sign of Jack Leach as Craig Overton starts the 39th over of this innings.
Essex also waited a long time before bringing Simon Harmer on.
Meanwhile, Alastair Cook mistimes an attempted pull shot that dribbles down safely in front of him and then Overton has two optimistic appeals (on his own) for a catch down the legside and a leg before.
Cook calmly ignores both and then nudges another single into the legside off the last ball.
Essex trail Somerset by 207 runs
Wind continues to howl around the empty stands here and the flags on top of the masts around the ground are all flying stiffly.
Tidy maiden over from Lewis Gregory as Alastair Cook happily bides his time.
Cook 52, Westley 29
Watchful stuff from Alastair Cook off Craig Overton as he leaves everything well alone outside off.
Finishes off the over with a single behind square as Overton strays a touch too straight.
Cook 51, Westley 29
Image source, Rex FeaturesMore runs for Tom Westley through mid-wicket as this time he benefits from the ball racing down the slope off Lewis Gregory.
Ticking along tidily now is the Essex captain as his side approach 100.
Cook 51, Westley 25
Brilliant bit of timing from Tom Westley off his legs as he glances Craig Overton away for four to square leg.
Overton keeps straying a bit too much on middle stump and Westley picks up another single through mid-wicket.
Essex 84-1
Image source, Getty ImagesA trademark extra cover drive reaches the boundary and in doing so, Sir Alastair Cook brings up his 50 off 100 balls.
That was his eighth four as well.
It's the 182nd time he's gone past fifty in first-class cricket. 66 of them have been converted into centuries.
Lewis Gregory will resume the bowling from the Pavilion End....
Cook 47, Westley 20
Alastair Cook thinks about taking another single off this legs, but turns it down.
There's then half an appeal for a catch down the legside so vociferous, it blows umpire Russell Warren's hat off!
(might have been a gust of wind actually...)
Cook finishes the over with a pushed single out into the offside to keep strike.
Somerset 301 v Essex 79-1
Anyhow, enough chat about thermals, time for the cricket to resume.
Alastair Cook and Tom Westley stride back out to the middle for Essex while Craig Overton will pick up bowling once again from the Nursery End for Somerset.
Image source, Rex FeaturesThanks Gary.
Unfortunately, I forgot to pick up my hat, gloves and scarf before heading out the door this morning.
Some of my esteemed colleagues of the written press are better prepared while a couple of others are currently sat with their backs on the radiators keeping warm, so both ends of the spectrum!
Okay, Monsieur Williams will take you through the afternoon session.
He's in place at Lord's. Any headwear to keep out the chill Adam?
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Martyn: Are the first innings of the Bob Willis Trophy final limited to 120 overs like in the group stages?
They are indeed.
Sebastian Taylor: What happens if this final ends in a draw?
The team with the best first-innings score are champions.
Somerset 301 v Essex 79-1 - lunch, day three
Lord's looks an absolute picture as ever, but it's ridiculously windy in the capital today. And it's set to get worse throughout the afternoon.
Tough conditions for the players, but thankfully no rain in the forecast.
Image source, Rex FeaturesTweet using #bbccricket
Herb Acius: Josh Davey bowling beautifully - looks threatening in this second spell pitching the ball up a bit more.
I thought he was the pick of the Somerset bowlers in that morning session Herb.
Somerset 301 v Essex 79-1 - lunch, day three
Varun Chopra
Essex batsman on BBC 5 Radio Live Sports Extra
It's been a very even session, Somerset have bowled well, perhaps a fraction short with the new ball for the the first 15 minutes but they've created half chances or edges that have just evaded a slip cordon.
Essex have applied themselves nicely and really grinded out going at two and a bit an over.
Somerset 301 v Essex 79-1 - lunch, day three
Image source, Rex FeaturesAlastair Cook looked in good touch with some classic cuts, pulls and drives to move to 46.
Nick Browne's dismissal for eight was the only real blemish in the Essex copy book.
Somerset bowled well but will probably be disappointed with just the one wicket.
Somerset 301 v Essex 79-1 (trail by 222)
And that's the final over before lunch safely negotiated by Tom Westley.
Just about Essex's session?
Image source, Getty ImagesSomerset 301 v Essex 77-1
We've just seen Kevin Howells' bobble hat... co-commentator and Essex batsman Varun Chopra has gone for the baseball cap. All sorts of headgear going on in the TMS commentary box!
Meanwhile Craig Overton concedes a leg bye and a single off the penultimate over before lunch.
Cook 46, Westley 17
Too straight from Josh Davey and Tom Westley whips the Somerset seamer away for four.
The one-time England batsman finishes the over with another clip for two. Can Somerset make the breakthrough before lunch? I'd imagine there will be two overs to go.