Essex in total control against Lancashire

Vitality County Championship Division One, Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford (second day)Lancashire 146& 10-1: Porter 1-2Essex 377: Westley 81, Elgar 79; Balderson 3-75Lancashire (3 pts) follows Essex (6 pts) by 221 runs< /em>Match scorecard

Essex captain scored 1,130 runs last season , but contributed only 56 in four innings this time.

However, his fluent 81 from 138 balls signaled a personal return to form and helped Essex build a 231 first. innings lead against struggling Lancashire.

By the end of play, Lancashire had lost their captain Keaton Jennings as he climbed back to 10-1. in 10 evenings as they battled to avoid an innings defeat.

Essex had revised the total to Lancashire's first innings inside 36 overs for the overnight loss of the wicket of Feroze Khushi, who had laid the foundation with a half-century at a strike rate of 160.

Dean Elgar and Sam Cook were more circumspect, although their impact was just as demoralizing for the defensive team as they scored 120 in 36 overs.

Elgar scored 17,000 career first-class runs during his stay of three and three quarter hours, but was ultimately caught behind as he floated to Will Williams on 79, his third 50-over score in five innings for his new county.

There was no respite with Elgar's departure. Westley and Jordan Cox settled into a steady rhythm.

Their partnership was worth 57 when Cox meekly coached Jack Blatherwick towards short mid-wicket. Matt Critchley came and went quickly, Nathan Lyon finding one to turn sharply and catch the angled bat as it headed towards Slip's hands.