Stuart Law has scored 176 runs without being dismissed in Essex's Cricinfo
Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford - but still looks like
ending on the losing side.
The brilliant Queenslander was left high and dry on 116 as Essex were all
out for 226 in their first innings, with Muttiah Muralitharan claiming six
for 53 from 48 overs for Lancashire.
It was a similar story when the visitors followed on 205 runs behind, with
Law unbeaten on 60 at the close of the third day but Essex still needing 45
runs to avoid an innings defeat at 160 for four.
Murali picked up his seventh wicket of the match by having Ronnie Irani
caught off bat and pad but Glen Chapple did most of the damage with a spell
of three for two in 17 balls after Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton had
shared an opening stand of 81.
To add to the drama Tony Brown, one of the England and Wales Cricket
Board's pitch liaison officers, was summoned to Old Trafford by the umpires
Allan Jones and Nigel Cowley following Essex's complaints that the match was
being played on the pitch used for last week's one-day international, but he
cleared Lancashire of any punishment.
Law, who had resumed at the start of the day on 47 in Essex's first
innings, reached his second century of the season from 286 balls with 14
fours. But no one could stay with him long enough against the wiles of
Muralitharan, who had Barry Hyam and Ricky Anderson caught by Neil
Fairbrother at slip, and Ashley Cowan taken by Gary Keedy at deep backward
square.
After lunch the Sri Lankan bowled Michael Davies before Chapple fired out
Peter Such in his first over with the second new ball.
Law's second 50 of the day came from 49 balls with eight fours and a hooked
six off Chapple. But amazingly, it might not be enough.