COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Southend:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Essex 150 & 78-6, Warwickshire 155
Warwicks 3pts, Essex 3pts
Match scorecard

Neil Carter has taken two wickets in Essex's second innings

Warwickshire's bowlers will hope to take quick wickets on the third morning after limiting Essex to 78-6 in their second innings, a lead of just 73.

After Essex were all out for 150 on the second morning at Southend, their bowlers led the recovery by dismissing the Bears for 155 in reply.

Australian leg-spinner Bryce McGain ripped through the tail with 4-33, while David Masters took 3-51.

But the Bears closed well on top, with Essex's hopes lying with Matt Walker.

Walker ended the day unbeaten on nine but is his side's only remaining recognised batsman after a late flurry of wickets saw Essex slump from 33-0 to 78-6.

Boyd Rankin began it by having Mark Pettini caught behind, before Tom Westley edged Rikki Clarke to second slip.

Neil Carter then struck twice in consecutive overs by having Ravi Bopara caught behind and trapping Jaik Mickleburgh leg before.

606: DEBATE What is going on here? Essex second innings 78-6. Knowing the Bears' record that may be enough hopeforthebest

And the Bears, who are currently rock-bottom of Division One, delivered another double blow just before the close as Chris Woakes had James Foster caught low down at first slip by Darren Maddy before Imran Tahir bowled Tony Palladino with the day's final ball.

McGain, in his second and probably last Championship game for Essex, had earlier bowled them back into the contest after Maddy (39) and Clarke (36) had accounted for almost half of their side's total between before both being pinned lbw by Masters.

The 38-year-old spinner struck with his first ball - and the first ball of spin in the match - by having Tim Ambrose caught behind by Foster.

The pair also combined to remove Carter and Tahir, while McGain also trapped Keith Barker lbw.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire's Clive Eakin reflects on the day two action:
"An opportunity missed by Warwickshire but they still have a decent chance of getting a win they simply must achieve if they're to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

"Players and umpires say the Garon Park pitch is difficult to bat on but not as impossible as the scores suggest.

"The Bears started the day believing they could take a first-innings initiative for the first time since April. But despite commendable efforts from Darren Maddy and Rikki Clarke they could only manage a meagre lead.

"At that point the pendulum appeared to have swung the home side's way. But the late flurry of wickets before the close have raised the hopes of the decent sized contingent of travelling supporters.

"This game is still crying out for one player to produce the 'match-winning' innings. That player needs to be a Bear if second division cricket next season isn't to be all-but a certainty."

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