Essex Openers Resist After Somerset Enforce Follow-On at Taunton

Essex reached 59 without loss in their second innings after Somerset enforced the follow-on on a dominant second day of their County Championship Division One match at Taunton. At stumps on Friday, Essex remained 252 runs behind, having been bowled out for 158 in reply to Somerset's first-innings 469. BBC Sport and Essex Cricket reported the day-two scores.

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Somerset resumed on 348 for five and extended their total through James Rew, who finished unbeaten on 74 from 127 balls. Migael Pretorius added a brisk 48 from 48 deliveries at number 11, helping the hosts put on 72 for the final wicket after they had slipped to 397 for nine. Sam Cook led the Essex attack with four wickets for 92 runs.

The total built on Somerset's strong opening day. Josh Thomas made 110 from 162 balls, Henry Nicholls scored 96 on his debut for the county and Tom Abell contributed 65. Rew's innings also carried him past 4,000 first-class runs at the age of 22, according to the club's match report. Somerset were eventually dismissed after 127.5 overs.

Essex's reply began badly, with Dean Elgar and captain Tom Westley both dismissed without scoring in the opening over. Charlie Allison then fell for one, leaving the visitors two for three. Matt Critchley countered with 50 from 88 balls, while Paul Walter made 48 and wicketkeeper Michael Pepper added 35, but those contributions could not prevent a large first-innings deficit.

Jack Leach took four wickets, including Simon Harmer, Shane Snater and Cook in a damaging lower-order spell. Somerset captain Lewis Gregory claimed three early wickets before he was unable to continue bowling after hurting his hip while fielding. Archie Vaughan took two wickets and Jake Ball one as Essex were dismissed in 47.2 overs.

Gregory still had enough of a lead to ask Essex to bat again. The visitors' openers then negotiated 19 overs without losing a wicket, giving their side a measure of resistance before the close. Somerset remain firmly in control entering the third day, but Essex have all 10 second-innings wickets intact as they attempt to erase the remaining deficit.