Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

Gary Smee

  1. Wrap up warm!

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Lord's

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    It's a much-underrated look that Kevin for live broadcasting.

    The headphones help give the ears an extra layer to keep warm.

    That's saved me during many a live rugby union or football report in mid-winter.

  2. Essex 69-1

    Cook 46, Westley 11

    Alastair Cook is solid in defence as Craig Overton returns with a maiden.

    10 minutes to go until lunch.

  3. Essex 69-1

    Cook 46, Westley 11

    When I said Somerset needed to get rid of Alastair Cook... I was talking from their point of view, not mine. I'd be happy to watch him bat all day!

    A couple of singles come off Josh Davey's over and now Craig Overton will have a burst before lunch...

  4. Essex 67-1

    Cook 45, Westley 10

    Alastair Cook chops Tom Abell behind point and to the fence for his sixth four.

    The former England captain tries another cut shot but misses. Not this time though... short ball and the left-hander punches the Somerset captain in front of point to the boundary.

    He's up to 45. Somerset need to get rid of him, and quickly.

  5. 'Essex are making slow but good progress'

    Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

    It's good competitive stuff and Essex are making slow but good progress because they've just lost that one wicket.

    The ball will be getting softer as they go along and we saw in the first innings that the older the ball gets the harder it is to get someone out.

  6. Get Involved

    Tweet using #bbccricket

    John Burns: In my nowhere near expert opinion, Somerset need to either bowl Cook out or keep him off strike and bowl the rest of Essex out.

  7. Essex 59-1

    Cook 37, Westley 10

    Josh Davey gets the changed ball to nip and bounce in his seventh over - one of which surprises Alastair Cook and beats him.

    No damage done though as Cook gets a single off the over.

  8. Essex 58-1

    Trail Somerset by 243

    They're changing the ball. I'm not quite sure why... it's not exactly been whistling to the fence much! But Somerset think it's gone out of shape and they'll get a new one.

  9. Essex 58-1

    Cook 36, Westley 10

    Tom AbellGetty Images

    Tom Abell brings himself on to bowl and has a big shout for lbw against Tom Westley second ball. Not out.

    Westley then guides a leg-side delivery to fine leg for a couple. 30 minutes to go until lunch... if Essex can go in one down they'll feel the happier of the two sides surely?

  10. 'One of Cook's greatest strengths is his mind'

    Varun Chopra
    Essex batsman on BBC 5 Radio Live Sports Extra

    One of Alastair Cook's greatest strengths is his mind, he'll be concentrating on his next ball and playing it as well as he can.

  11. Essex 56-1

    Cook 36, Westley 8

    Shot!

    Josh Davey, into the attack for Lewis Gregory, overpitches and Alastair Cook biffs him through the covers.

    Davey had beaten the left-hander the ball before with one that nipped away and also enticed an edge which rolled along the floor. But Cook showed his class with the follow-up boundary.

  12. Essex 52-1

    Cook 32, Westley 8

    Tom Westley whips a Jack Brooks full toss through the leg side and they get a couple.

    The rest of the over is on the money. Two from it.

  13. Essex 50-1

    Cook 32, Westley 6

    Essex bring their 50 up as Alastair Cook drives Lewis Gregory to the cover fence. Cook moves into the 30s and Essex's deficit is down to 251.

    Alastair CookRex Features

  14. Essex 46-1

    Cook 28, Westley 6

    Nothing for Tom Westley to score off there from Jack Brooks. Maiden.

    The wind is absolutely howling at Lord's.

  15. Essex 46-1

    Cook 28, Westley 6

    You don't bowl there to Alastair Cook.

    Lewis Gregory strays onto the 35-year-old's pads and he clips him away for a couple.

    They're the only runs off another tight over - Gregory has 1-7 from his five overs. Impressive stuff.

  16. Essex 44-1

    Cook 26, Westley 6

    Tom Westley guides Jack Brooks behind point and the ball races to the rope.

    Five dot balls follow. How finely balanced is this game?! Essex trail by 257.

  17. Essex 40-1

    Cook 26, Westley 2

    Lewis Gregory is looking really dangerous with the ball.

    The England man tempts Alastair Cook into a miscued drive which flies away to third man for three.

    He then nips one in to Tom Westley and the right-hander just manages to get a bat down in time.

  18. Essex 36-1

    Cook 23, Westley 1

    Four runs off Jack Brooks' third over, a couple of leg byes and a front-foot no-ball - which is worth another two.

    Why did no-balls change to a two-run penalty? There's today's teaser.

  19. Essex 32-1

    Cook 23, Westley 1

    Tom Westley gets off the mark first ball by tucking Lewis Gregory behind square.

    Alastair Cook sees out the rest of the over.

  20. Essex 31-1

    Cook 23, Westley 0

    Jack Brooks tests out the middle of the pitch and Alastair Cook swats him to the boundary.

    Brooks then finds his line and length and five dot balls follow.

    Tom Westley is the new man in for Essex and will face Lewis Gregory...