Over 45. 2 runs. Bowler: Rishi Patel. Essex Men: 4-212(rr 4.71) Over the wicket. Full, off stump, front foot, drive along the ground to Ben Cox at extra cover. 1 run.
Rishi Patel bowls a full off break on off stump, and Matt Critchley pushes it firmly but without risk, with the ball neatly fielded at cover. No run from that delivery.
Rishi Patel drops it shorter just back of a length on middle stump, and Michael Pepper executes a neat sweep along the ground, guided towards short fine leg for no run.
Over 44. 5 runs. Bowler: Joey Evison. Essex Men: 4-210(rr 4.77) A length ball on off stump, pushed gently into the extra cover region and well fielded, yielding no run.
Over 43. 7 runs. Bowler: Rehan Ahmed. Essex Men: 3-205(rr 4.77) On a length ball just on middle stump, the leg spinner is met with a controlled push by Paul Walter who nudges it smartly for a single.
The leg spinner bowls full and on middle stump; the batter attempts a slog-sweep but mistimes it, sending the ball awkwardly in the air for just two runs.
The leg spinner bowls a full delivery on off stump, and Paul Walter executes a precise cut shot, guiding the ball low and controlled towards backward point. No run comes off the bat as the fielder collects cleanly.
The leg spinner pitches a length ball on middle stump, inviting the drive. Paul Walter meets it with a crisp, well-timed shot racing past mid-wicket for four. Essex moves along to 202 for 3 now.
Over 42. 5 runs. Bowler: Ben Green. Essex Men: 3-198(rr 4.71) Ben Green bowls a length ball on off stump, and Critchley attempts a drive but mistimes it. The ball stays low and is neatly fielded at cover, yielding no run.
Ben Green delivers a length ball on middle stump, and Paul Walter deftly glances it on the leg side for three runs, pushing into the deep backward square leg fielder's territory.
Ben Green bowls a length ball on leg stump, with Paul Walter expertly glancing it delicately to the fine leg boundary for two runs. Paul Walter reaches his century off 125 balls at a strike rate of 80.
