Highlights from the second day
James Foster led from the front as Essex closed in on victory against Kent after dominating the second day of their LV= County Championship Division Twoencounter at the Essex County Ground.
After the home skipper scored his first century of the season to lead Essex to a total of 328 and an advantage of 130 runs, they then dismissed their opponents for 151 in the final over of the day to leave themselves needing just 22 runs on Thursday to record a fourth Championship win in five matches and keep alive their hopes of promotion.
Foster, taking full advantage of a pitch that had lost much of its venom and helped by bowling that was found wanting in line and length, drove with authority as he figured in two productive partnerships on the way to a score of 108 before he was pinned lbw by Mitch Claydon.
The first of 90 featured Jesse Ryder, who carried his overnight score to 58 before Claydon removed him caught behind.
Then Foster found fine support from Graham Napier as the pair shared in a seventh-wicket stand of 114 in 20 overs that secured a third batting bonus point.
Napier, with some typical forthright strokes through the on side, hit 10 fours in an innings of 62 before he too fell to Claydon after hitting to Daniel Bell-Drummond on the midwicket boundary.
The departure of Napier led to a rapid conclusion of the innings, the final four wickets falling in the space of 17 deliveries for just one run.
Here's @JamesFoster07 after hitting a century today v @kentcricket, Essex all out for 328 with 130 runs lead #EssvKenpic.twitter.com/k57xCesOkJ
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 10, 2014
Two of those were claimed by Darren Stevens, who finished with 5-83 from 30.1 overs, while Claydon emerged with figures of 4-76 from 23 overs.
Kent's hopes of getting off to a good start were soon ended as they lost two wickets before the total had moved into double figures.
Ryder, as he had done in the first innings, got rid of Bell-Drummond lbw for one, while David Masters removed Ben Harmison, who edged behind to Foster to depart for two.
A recovery of sorts was launched by Rob Key and Brendan Nash, the latter welcoming Monty Panesar into the attack with a six and a four.
But after they had put on 64 in 20 overs, Panesar had his revenge when he made a delivery lift and turn to find Nash's outside edge, Foster diving to his right to complete the dismissal.
Three overs later, Napier turned the screw by claiming two wickets in an over to leave the visitors in complete disarray.
First of all he breached the defence of first innings century-maker Sam Northeast for only two and then ended the stubborn resistance of Key as he uprooted the Kent captain's off stump for 28.
In his next over he had Sam Billings caught at mid on for a duck - his third victim in the space of seven deliveries at a cost of two runs.
Stevens and Claydon fell cheaply to Panesar and Masters respectively but a lively approach from James Tredwell and Adam Riley ensured Essex would have to bat again.
Tredwell struck Panesar for three successive fours during a partnership of 45 in nine overs before the arrival of off-spinner Tom Westley broke the stand when he had Riley caught in the deep for 21.
With Essex requiring just 22 runs to win tomorrow morning, entry to The E.C.G is free to all spectators. Meteor Way car park will be open
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 10, 2014
Tredwell then became another victim of Napier's after he had made 29, caught on the mid-wicket boundary to bring the innings to a close.
Napier finished with 4-28 from 9.2 overs while Masters and Panesar picked up two wickets apiece.
Reflecting on the day's play, Foster said: "It's obviously been a great day for us.
"We got a decent lead and then bowled them out but I am a little disappointed because I felt we should have got a lot more runs than we did when we lost those last four wickets for one run.
"But the way our bowlers performed was excellent."
Stevens, whose five-wicket haul saw him pass 50 wickets for the season, said: "That's huge thing for me personally, it's the first time I've achieved it but I've probably never bowled 400 overs either.
"But the bigger picture is that we are in a poor position. Bowled out for not very many in the second innings and a 22 overall lead it's just not good enough."