Napier ton restricts Lancashire's dominance.
Lancashire's largely successful day was seemingly overshadowed by Graham Napier, who achieved an impressive score of 102 not out in the visitors first innings. Having achieved 70 in both innings versus Hampshire, Lancashire were perfectly aware of the threat that he posed, but they were unable to remove the all-rounder, despite the dominance throughout the day.
This fixture saw the return if Sajid Mahmood, who left Lancashire in the winter, and he gave Stephen Parry his second wicket in the evening session, as the home side eventually bowled out a stubborn Essex line-up, bolstered by the presence of England captain Alistair Cook who made 34.
His score proved to be the only noteworthy innings prior to Napier's fine innings, with the visitors 77-5 shortly into the afternoon session. Luke Procter finished with 4-66, as he removed the majority of Essex's top-order batsmen.
He was supported well by Kyle Hogg, who took Lancashire's first wicket, comprehensively bowling Tom Westley, as Essex faced an early set-back. The innings never truly recovered until Napier played an entertaining innings that gave the visitors some hope in this fixture.
Lancashire captain Glen Chapple eventually took the final wicket of Reece Topley, with Wayne White claiming the Essex skipper James Foster, as he proved to be an adequate replacement in the long-term absence of James Anderson.
There are question marks over the state of the weather for the next two days, but Lancashire's performance with the ball will have given them greater confidence from the first days play.
But this invincible confidence took a major knock when Napier resisted Lancashire's best efforts and when Paul Horton fell late in the day, Lancashire closed on 7-1 in response to Essex's score of 226.
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