Robinson and Irani see Essex to respectability

Essex ended a fascinating day's play still needing 43 runs to avoid the follow-on with five wickets intact.

Warwickshire declared their first innings immediately they had secured their full quota of batting points and were then given a perfect start when Charles Dagnall removed Paul Prichard with the second ball of the Essex reposte without a run on the board.

Neither Paul Grayson or Stuart Law survived long and at 63-3 in the 19th over, the home side were in some difficulty.

Darren Robinson though emerged to play with commendable application whilst punishing anything wayward. A victim of a broken finger and broken thumb on separate occasions this season, the 27 year-old showed no ill-effects and was only 8 runs short of his first century of the summer when he was caught at backward short leg. He had faced 195 deliveries and struck 14 boundaries and in company with skipper Ronnie Irani, had seen Essex to respectability with a fourth wicket partnership of 116.

Stephen Peters scored a single before he gave spinner Neil Smith his second wicket but Irani remained defiant and eased past his half-century guiding his side to their first batting point.

Contrasting fortunes for Warwickshire's Mark Wagh who, less than 24 hours after being awarded his county cap, had to be withdrawn from his side's bowling attack.

The off-spinner had bowled just one over when umpires John Hampshire and Barry Dudleston conferred before calling Warwickshire captain Neil Smith into their discussions. Neither official was apparently satisified with the legality of the bowler's action and Smith immediately withdrew the bowler from the attack. It is understood that the umpires will be referring the incident to Lord's and Wagh's bowling attack with come under scrutiny.

Close of play: Warwickshire 400-8 declared
Essex 208-5 from 77 overs - Irani 72*, Foster 7*