COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Essex 221 Northamptonshire 63-1(Northants 3pts, Essex 1pt)
6-9 May 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

Hall finished with figures of 5-29 from 13.1 overs

South African all-rounder Andrew Hall claimed a county-best five-for to put Northamptonshire on top against Essex.

Hall picked up figures of 5-29 as the visitors were dismissed for 221 after winning the toss at Wantage Road.

After openers Jaik Mickleburgh (62)and Varun Chopra (42) had given Essex a solid start, Mark Pettini's side lost their last nine wickets for 83 runs.

Northants opener Rob White (39no) then shared 63 with Niall O'Brien, who fell to the final ball of the day for 23.

Essex opener Varun Chopra told BBC Essex:

"It was a difficult first session and to go into lunch without losing a wicket was pleasing.

"They bowled well after lunch but as a batting side we know we should have done better.

"It's a pitch where if you get one wicket, you can take a few, so that's hopefully what we'll do."

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