Essex 253 and 65 for 1 lead Nottinghamshire 293 (Clarke 104, Haynes 77, Cook 4-59) by 25 runs
Essex had their noses in entrance once more by the shut, though they misplaced Feroze Khushi to a catch at first slip, ending on 65 for 1. An extra twist to an eventful last session might comply with if what gave the impression to be Khushi’s bat is confirmed to have exceeded the regulation measurement after an on-field test by the umpires required it to be modified.
It was the 26-year-old seamer’s second senior hat-trick – his first got here towards Kent within the Vitality Blast final summer season – and the primary by an Essex bowler in first-class cricket since Danish Kaneria achieved the feat towards Derbyshire in 2009.
Essex had earlier been dismissed for 253 of their first innings as Nottinghamshire wanted solely 13 deliveries firstly of the morning to choose up the one wicket wanted in a single day, though Jamie Porter was capable of safe a primary batting level of the season earlier than he was caught at first slip as Pennington grabbed a second debut wicket.
Essex, who had themselves suffered a collapse from 170 for two, recovered to have the house aspect three down at lunch in reply. Nottinghamshire openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett appeared snug initially, however when Shane Snater relieved Porter on the Radcliffe Street he dismissed Duckett with his first supply, which did sufficient to cross the sting of the England left-hander’s defensive bat and clip off stump.
Cook adopted up with a leg earlier than towards Ben Slater earlier than Hameed, dropped at first slip off Porter on 28, perished in Porter’s subsequent over, caught behind for 32.
From 93 for 3 at lunch, Nottinghamshire have been 100 for 4 quickly afterwards, dropping Matt Montgomery to a catch by Simon Harmer at second slip as Snater discovered sufficient motion away to assert a second wicket. The Netherlands worldwide’s career-best 7 for 98 got here on this floor in 2021.
But Essex might make no additional inroads within the afternoon session as Clarke and Haynes took management. Clarke, who loved his finest season as a Nottinghamshire batter in 2023, appeared to succeed in a turning level with his match-saving marathon 229 not out towards Warwickshire in June. Since then he has appeared like a batter with extra readability in his course of with out compromising his means to inflict harm on opponents.
For 4 hours it appeared like one thing comparable is perhaps on the playing cards once more, his focus not often drifting as he handed fifty with a pull for six off Paul Walter and accomplished his twenty first profession hundred by sweeping and chopping Harmer for consecutive fours, moments of aggression within the context of well-judged progress. Little surprise that his shoulders slumped after a uncommon unfastened shot noticed him caught at mid-on.
It had been a fantastic innings, nonetheless, with 16 fours and that one six, as was that of his younger companion, one other former Worcestershire batter, albeit one whose senior debut got here after Clarke had left New Street. Haynes performed pictures that have been pleasing on the attention, any debut nerves seemingly calmed by Clarke’s assuredness on the different finish.
Their partnership added 159 in somewhat over 44 overs, placing Nottinghamshire in a seemingly robust place, six runs in entrance. But the breaking of it by offspinner Harmer’s first wicket of the season let Essex back in, with Haynes quickly falling to a different tame dismissal, a full toss spooned to mid-on, caught by sub fielder Ben Allison, on briefly for Cook.
It left the house aspect with two new batters and the brand new ball due, one with which Cook promptly took a hat-trick, trapping James and Pennington leg earlier than, with Hutton bowled by a corker in between. Porter wrapped issues up by bowling Dane Paterson.
