Trescothick double flattens Essex

Essex 151 and 38 for 1 v Somerset 215 and 367 for 8 dec
Scorecard

Marcus Trescothick destroyed the Essex attack with the third double century of his career as Somerset carved out a commanding position in the County Championship Division One clash at Colchester.

Trescothick's knock of 228 not out was the highest score by a Somerset player against Essex and carried the visitors to 367 for 8 declared in their second innings.

It left Essex with a monumental victory target of 432 and in the 10 overs left before the close they lost Jaik Mickleburgh, caught behind off Charl Willoughby. They will resume on 38 for 1 and needing something bordering on the miraculous or the intervention of the weather to steer clear of a defeat which would make their hopes of preserving their First Division status very remote.

As Trescothick dominated the Castle Park stage, he punctuated his innings with a series of magnificent drives as he smashed seven sixes and 23 boundaries in his 230-ball innings.

It fully made up for his third-ball duck on the opening day and leaves his county odds-on favourites to secure the victory they require to add impetus to their title quest.

The opener did survive a couple of chances while underlining his class and putting the bowlers to the sword. On 85 he was put down at slip by Mark Pettini off Matt Walker and again on 178 by Chris Wright on the square leg boundary in the same over in which he had despatched leg spinner Danish Kaneria for two successive sixes.

Trescothick took part in two substantial stands. The first was with James Hildreth who stroked his way to his second half century of the game while making 59 in a fourth wicket stand of 157. And then Murali Kartik rubbed further salt into Essex wounds with 52 from 59 balls during an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 127 in 19 overs.

David Masters was the only Essex bowler to command any real respect, picking up 3 for 53 in 18 overs. In contrast Kaneria's solitary success, which arrived when he had Hildreth caught by Ravi Bopara when reverse sweeping, came at a cost of 120 in 20 overs. Tony Palladino conceded 67 in a dozen overs while Wright's 15 overs cost 83, although both had the consolation of picking up a couple of wickets.

Earlier in the day, Essex lost their four remaining wickets for an additional 25 runs as they were bowled out for 151 to finish 64 adrift on first innings. They were shared by Willoughby and Alfonso Thomas who ended with 4 for 67 and 4 for 44 respectively.