COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Essex 221 & 308, Northants 354 & 16-0(Northants 7pts, Essex 4pts)
6-9 May 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

James Foster has been included in the England squad for the World Twenty20

Northants look on course to wrap up victory over Essex at Wantage Road, despite an innings of 84 from England Twenty20 wicketkeeper James Foster.

Foster came to the crease with his side struggling on 78-3, still 45 behind.

But he shared a fifth-wicket stand of 75 with Ryan ten Doeschate as the visitors were eventually dismissed for 308, to set Northants a target of 176.

Northants openers Rob White and Niall O'Brien saw off the final four overs of the day to close on 16-0.

Essex paceman Chris Wright told BBC Essex:

"We're reasonably confident we can win, especially after what happened to us against Kent last week.

"We knew we'd have to dig in to get a good score, and to get over 300 was a good effort.

"There's a bit of life in the wicket, and if we bowl well then we're in with a shout."

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