Harry Drift

Essex 178 for 1 (45 overs) Maunders 66, Bopara 106.

Bopara reached his century from 127 balls but Essex took almost an hour to get in front this morning. They have batted with surprisingly little urgency, although are now starting to play a few shots.

The Bears are bowling and fielding with the quiet contentment of a team which knows they only need to avoid total implosion in order to win promotion.

Frost's monumental innings yesterday, by the way, brought him 242 runs comprising 74 singles, 12 twos, six threes, 30 fours and one six. He faced 343 dot balls.