Rain denies Essex chance of victory
Essex were denied the chance to push for a third win in the County Championship this season as the weather only allowed six overs to be bowled on the final day against Northamptonshire
ECB Reporters Network
31-May-2016
Northamptonshire 444 (Duckett 189, Newton 75, Bopara 5-95) and 75 for 5 drew with Essex 640 (ten Doeschate 145, Foster 113, Mickleburgh 103, Browne 88, Westley 69, Bopara 58)
Scorecard
Scorecard
Essex were denied the chance to push for a third win in the County Championship this season as the weather only allowed six overs to be bowled on the final day against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
The 12 points Essex took from the draw did extend their lead at the top of Division Two, however. Northants, after a fourth-straight draw at home this season and sixth stalemate in seven matches, took 11 points.
The final day began on time under leaden skies and a howling wind with Northamptonshire resuming 56 for 4 in their second innings, still trailing by 140. They lost nightwatchman Ben Sanderson in the fifth over of the morning - giving Ravi Bopara a seventh wicket in the match, one scalp short of a first-class best match haul.
But only one more over was possible before heavy rain arrived and conditions did not improve throughout the afternoon.
