Sun shining

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's a lovely sunny morning - how rare and wonderful to be able to say that!

Essex 338 for 9 (87 overs). Wright 18, Palladino 0.

Rankin's first ball of the morning was short and wide outside off-stump and Masters chopped it straight into the hands of Frost at gully.

Essex need 12 more runs for a potentially priceless bonus point.