COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Tunbridge Wells:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Essex 280 & 109-3, Kent 123 (Essex 5pts, Kent 3pts)
16 - 19 June 2009 (Play begins 1100 BST)

Masters picked up 4-34 from his 18 overs

David Masters took four wickets to help Essex take complete control against Kent on day two at Tunbridge Wells.

The former Kent fast bowler took 4-34, with Graham Napier picking up 4-32 and Ryan ten Doeschate 2-4 as the hosts were bowled out for 123.

This gave Essex a first-innings lead of 157, but captain Mark Pettini chose not to enforce the follow-on.

The hosts moved to 109-3 at the close, a lead of 266, with Alastair Cook making 30 and Varun Chopra 38 not out.

Starting the day on 4-2, Kent were put under pressure by Masters' 95-minute morning spell of 3-19 which saw nightwatchman Amjad Khan and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones caught behind by James Foster and Darren Stevens caught at cover by Chopra.

When Martin van Jaarsveld edged Napier to Foster, Kent were in serious trouble at 50-6 before Justin Kemp (36) and James Tredwell (28) led a fightback of sorts.

They shared 56 for the seventh wicket before both fell to Napier, with ten Doeschate removing Ryan McLaren and Simon Cook to end the innings.

Cook shared an opening stand of 47 before Jason Gallian (17) was bowled by Khan. But then Cook himself went, caught behind by Geraint Jones without further addition.

Jones and Cook again combined to remove former Kent favourite Matt Walker cheaply, before Chopra and Pettini saw Essex to the close.

Wicketkeeper James Foster told BBC Essex:

"We got up to a decent total and then the way we bowled was exceptional to leave us sitting pretty.

"It's a new ball kind of wicket. As a bowling side you really need to cash in.

"We're in the box seat, but that means nothing. We need to put a good score on the board tomorrow and then go from there."

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