COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Chelmsford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Northants 299 & 39-2, Essex 253-8dec (Essex 5pts, Northants 4pts)
15-18 September 2009

Ten Doeschate needs 99 runs to reach 4,000 in his first-class career

Ryan Ten Doeschate hit a run a ball 75 to keep Essex's promotion hopes alive, as they declared 46 runs behind main rivals Northants on 253-8.

David Lucas, Andrew Hall and Monty Panesar took two wickets apiece for the visitors, but they were denied a vital bowling bonus point.

David Masters then claimed the wickets of Stephen Peters and Paul Harrison as Northants closed on 39-2.

Niall O'Brien is unbeaten on 28 to help Northants lead by just 85 runs.

Earlier, Essex lost half their side for only 128 but Ten Doeschate turned things round with a forcing half-century that spanned just 38 deliveries and included eight boundaries.

Together with James Foster (28), he eased his side away from their difficult position, the pair adding an entertaining 89 for the sixth wicket before both departed in quick succession to Hall.

Foster, who had played vigilantly in support of his free-playing partner to reach 28, was undone by a delivery that found the edge of the bat to be caught at first slip.

In the bowler's next over, Ten Doeschate, having advanced to 75, swung the ball into the hands of Lee Daggett at deep fine leg.

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