Arrived at Chelmsford for the first day of Essex vs Middlesex during lunch to see that Graham Napier had blasted through the Middlesex top order to leave them 91-4.
Sam Robson, though, was still there in his first game of the season and he went on to 50 off 111 balls and with Jamie Dalrymple they put a halt to the slide. Dalrymple was particularly ruthless against 17 year old Reece Topley, taking him for three consecutive fours in an over that cost 17. Then in the next over he carted Tim Phillips back over long-off for six. He went to fifty with another four off Phillips which brought up the 100 partnership.
The return of Napier brought about Dalrymple's knock, edging him to Matt Walker at gully, 193-5. The new man John Simpson helped Robson bat to tea with Robson reaching a gritty 100 with a single off the last over before tea, although nearly running Simpson out. This left Middlesex 216-5 and after tea the pair ticked along merrily ad the Essex fielding began to slide a bit. First Simpson was dropped by Pettini off Phillips, then a couple of overs later the same man was dropped at deep square leg by Adam Wheater off Matt Walker, the change of bowler almost working.
These lives cost Essex slightly as Simpson took nine off Phillips next over before reaching his fifty at 284-5. The 100 partnership came next, then the 300 before Robson smoked another four to move into the 130s. Napier then found the breakthough for a well deserved fifth wicket, literally destroying Simpson's middle stump.
Nightwatchman Anthony Ireland and Robson batted out until close with Middlesex closing on 316-6 with Robson batting the whole day for 136 not out. Napier finished with impressive figures of 5-41 and it remains to be seen who will seize control tomorrow on a pitch that was good with some occasional uneven bounce.
