County Championship: Essex and Warwickshire face intriguing finish

An unbroken fifth-wicket century stand between Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley gave Essex the chance of pulling off an unlikely County Championship victory over Warwickshire at Chelmsford.

Essex finished day three on 224-4, requiring a further 106 runs on the final day, to resurrect their hopes of launching a serious challenge to leaders Surrey.

A 112-partnership saw Cox become only the third player in the match to pass 50 and he was 77 not out from 144 balls at the close with Critchley on 46 from 111.

Warwickshire were dismissed inside 38 overs for just 94, with Essex spinners Critchley and Simon Harmer sharing seven wickets, including all five that fell in the morning.

Essex’s chase began disastrously when Feroze Khushi was trapped first ball by Michael Rae and Che Simmons pulled off a stunning diving catch to account for Nick Browne.

Dean Elgar’s boundary brought up only the second 50 partnership in the match, but almost immediately, though, Simmons produced a fuller ball and Essex skipper Tom Westley departed lbw for 18.

Cox and Elgar put on 47 in 12 overs until Ed Barnard pinned the latter for 60 from 85 balls.

Critchley took time to get started but he soon launched Rob Yates for six over long-on and Cox reached his fourth 50-plus score from 101 balls.

Warwickshire’s second innings had lasted just another 75 minutes in the morning session while they added 51 runs for five wickets.

Rae was beaten by the extravagant turn of Harmer, became unbalanced and was bowled and Burgess pulled Critchley to mid-wicket where Luc Benkensein took a comfortable catch.

Chris Benjamin faced seven balls before he nicked to Cox at slip and Jacob Bethell skied his third ball, with Critchley claiming the caught-and-bowled in figures of 4-24.

Harmer wrapped up the innings when Simmons charged down the wicket and pickedout Westley.