Lancashire collapse as Essex take control.
Lancashire repeated their performance from Colwyn Bay, as they failed to achieve any batting points, making just 177 in their first innings.
Gareth Cross was the only player to show any resistance, but when he fell for 45 Lancashire's hopes of scraping a single bonus point were eradicated. He was supported well by Steven Croft who added 31 to the home sides insufficient total, but the batsmen at the top of the order failed to give them any hope of exceeding Essex's score.
Luke Procter and Karl Brown both fell without scoring and when former Lancashire player, Sajid Mahmood, removed Simon Katich for 23 Essex seized control of the match, with the home side faltering to 99-6.
Kyle Hogg and Gareth Cross were responsible for Lancashire's revival versus Glamorgan, but their efforts in this match appear to have been in vain, as their 44-run partnership failed to truly lift Lancashire out of the mess they have become accustomed to getting into.
Graham Napier's impressive century was complimented nicely by his figures of 2-44, but Essex's stand-out bowler was the left-arm spinner Tim Phillips, who claimed three Lancashire batsmen in just five and a half overs.
Any chances of Lancashire extending their fortunes in the Championship campaign were quelled by Cook, who made the hosts pay for their lacklustre performance with the bat. His fifty, coming from 115 balls exhibits why he will be a key figure in England's test team, ahead of their encounter with New Zealand and of course the Ashes.
Essex's already dominant position was enhanced when Robert Quiney added 30 in a second wicket stand worth 52 runs, before he was bowled by the Lancashire captain Glen Chapple late in the day.
Last weeks match versus Glamorgan proved that anything is possible in cricket and that is what makes it such a great game, but some matches separate the fortunate from the brilliant and, weather permitting, Essex hope to maintain their hold in this match, resuming play on 120-2.
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