Bob Willis Trophy final: Sir Alastair Cook makes 172 as Essex close on Somerset total

Sir Alastair Cook dinner made a handsome 172 for Essex nonetheless a Somerset fightback left the Bob Willis Trophy final delicately poised with two days remaining.

But his departure in the closing overs means Essex peaceful trail by 30 runs with four wickets in hand.

Lewis Gregory (4-58) spearheaded Somerset’s revival in the evening session with the 2nd original ball.

Will relish to peaceful the match model as a design, the facet which leads on first innings will most seemingly be supplied with the trophy, and that stays in the balance.

• Relive day three of the Bob Willis Trophy final as it took residing

Essex looked space to model in entrance at stumps as they lost correct one wicket in the 2 sessions sooner than tea with captain Tom Westley making 51 in a 170-chase partnership for the 2nd wicket with Cook dinner.

But he fell to the 2nd ball of the evening session and 4 extra wickets fell sooner than the shut, together with two in two balls for Gregory and two extra in successive overs with the original ball.

Essex will resume on the fourth morning with nightwatchman Jamie Porter alongside wicketkeeper Adam Wheater with essentially the most indispensable target for the 2019 county champions to attain 302.

Cook dinner feasts on extra occupation landmarks

Without demand, the third day of this inaugural 5-day county final belonged to faded England captain Cook dinner.

All by strategy of the path of his innings, he not fully registered his 2nd century of the opponents in this shortened season, nonetheless grew to change into its main chase-scorer with 532.

In a occupation of document-breaking feats, England’s main Test chase-scorer additionally moved himself extra up the charts of first class occupation chase-scorers.

Quickly after tea, he had climbed to 141st on the all-time list, passing Steve Waugh, Ray Illingworth, Ricky Ponting and Sadiq Mohammad in the approach.

Every other amount which might perchance perchance perhaps curiosity the cricketing statisticians is that first class century amount 67 means he has 34 to affiliate with his 33 in Assessments, 24 of which were scored in an Essex shirt.

The left-hander’s innings became punctuated by all his trademark shots; the sq. reduce, the leg take a look at up on, the pull and an outstanding quilt force.

Now and then, he looked care for he became batting on a obvious level to everyone else in the match such became his ease of scoring, in particular in the afternoon session.

But as Essex were reined in by Somerset’s power bowling after tea, he became in a roundabout design brushed aside 5 overs sooner than stumps, neatly caught low down at 2nd lunge by Craig Overton off Gregory.

Departing after 289 balls, 26 fours and a preserve correct attempting six and a half hours, it became his seventh century at Lord’s.

Unfortunately, the in the inspire of-closed-doors restrictions brought about by Covid-19, intended fully a resolve few were in a local to survey it.

Shut of play response

Essex opener Alastair Cook dinner:

“It’s a long way a huge ride to play in any final, in particular one thing that’s below no circumstances been done sooner than.

“It’s the kind of disgrace there might perchance be not any crowd in right here for one thing that’s essentially the most indispensable in our domestic first class game and it be been a terribly correct match to play in up to now.

“It became tricky early on against the original ball and Somerset are a pretty relentless assault in their approach. But, I became gratified with the approach I played and it be space the next two days up well.

“At one stage, we looked care for reaching stumps with a wholesome lead, nonetheless there might perchance be peaceful grand extra cricket to be played in this game, honest about 200 overs, so it be below no circumstances sure how it be going to head.

On how he’s found this season with Essex:

“I’ve really enjoyed taking half in in this opponents with this team of workers, with loads to play for in every match and it be been huge relaxing.

“It’s a long way a correct club to be at correct now. The altering room is a huge residing to be around, the team of workers is exact and we’re winning a spread of video games, in sigh that unquestionably helps.

“I’ve not given too grand consideration into how many extra seasons I will withhold taking half in. I’ve said sooner than I will absolutely play all of next season and then we are going to survey what happens.

“This might perchance perchance perhaps also be correct to build up crowds inspire in and accumulate a elephantine season next 365 days, nonetheless we don’t know clearly at this point what’s going to happen.

“When I retired from Test cricket, I became a small bit vexed as it be a nice hole to acquire for your life. It’s indispensable to work a lot on developing what comes next and up to now, I’m taking half in what I’m doing correct now taking half in for Essex.”

Somerset seamer Lewis Gregory:

“Currently became a staunch test for the boys after having been nice with the ball in every match main up to this.

“The wicket became moderately gradual and Alastair showed his class. It became one of lately where we might perchance perchance perhaps not accumulate him out early.

“I believed we bowled rather well first up. A pair of edges fell attempting the slips and then he correct did what he’s done for a very long time, he churned out the runs and unfortunately for us, he showed why he’s peaceful one of the crucial biggest.

“It became nice to stare the inspire of him sooner than the pause of the day for obvious and optimistically we can accumulate a pair extra wickets early in the morning to build up a lead.

“Hopefully, essentially the most indispensable 30 minutes will tear in our favour and we might perchance perchance perhaps make from there.”