Sir Alastair Cook hits 172 to give Essex valuable foothold amid Somerset fightback

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: The destination of the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy remains unknown after the former England captain took the reigning county champions to near parity on day three

Lord's (third day of five): Somerset 301 v Essex 271-6

Scorecard

Sir Alastair Cook marched to a brilliant 172 as Essex fought back on day three of the Bob Willis Trophy final against Somerset at Lord's.

England's all-time leading run-scorer and former captain struck his 80th three-figure score across all formats and put on 170 for the second wicket with club skipper Tom Westley.

Cook hit 26 boundaries across nearly six hours of batting while amassing his highest score since calling time on his international career in one of his most free-flowing innings in years.

Despite the knock, a batch of quick wickets after tea ensured Essex will have to wait to gain parity in the match as they look set to surpass Somerset's first innings 301 and put one hand on some more red-ball silverware.

Tom Abell caught his opposite number Westley (51) before Lewis Gregory (4-58) dismissed Dan Lawrence and Paul Walter (0) in consecutive balls.

Craig Overton then returned with the new ball to get rid of Ryan ten Doeschate (21) before Gregory claimed the prized wicket of Cook late in the day.

The reigning County Championship holders closed on 271 for 6 with 22 overs of their innings remaining to try and build a lead.

^{Tom Westley made 51 and put on 170 with Alastair Cook}

In the event of a drawn match, the team leading after both sides have batted once will be given the trophy.

After being saved from having to bat in the gloom on the second evening, Essex returned amid glorious sunshine on day three tasked with stamping their mark on the contest.

Despite the pleasant overheads, both Craig Overton and Josh Davey impressed first up forcing Nick Browne and Cook to play and miss as they retreated into survival mode.

Typically for the frustrated new-ball pair, first change Gregory got the breakthrough as Browne (8) produced a regulation edge to Overton in the slip cordon.

Neither Cook nor Westley looked totally comfortable even when the former was driving through the covers but loose deliveries did eventually ease the pressure.

Thirty-five-year-old Cook had 45 at lunch and looked odds-on to go to three figures. Westley appeared to be playing himself into form and was helped with that task by being given a life after the resumption, edging Davey through to Overton who couldn't hold on.

^{Lewis Gregory's late wickets helped Somerset stage a counterattack}

His partner was imperious, however, and a 67th first-class century, seventh at Lord's and first for Essex at the old ground was secured via another boundary from a woeful full toss from the out-of-sorts Jack Leach.

The Chelmsford club were only 105 from parity at tea but their progress was checked by the loss of three wickets for just nine runs.

A now confident Westley fell into the trap and clipped to Abell off Tom Lammonby, to deliver his second red-ball wicket, before Gregory stuck with consecutive deliveries.

First, the England allrounder's short ball was pulled by Lawrence straight to Lammonby running back before Walter was trapped lbw next up. Somerset had nevertheless conceded more than 200 for the first time this season but they were given late hope in the form of the new ball.

Eight overs with a fresh nut offered an opportunity for Somerset to make further inroads and Overton finally got his reward by wrapping Ten Doeschate on the pads.

Gregory also got in on the act to change the momentum of the contest again, catching Cook's edge to leave Essex still 30 short of taking a crucial first innings lead.

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