County Championship Division One (close)

Essex 517-5 dec v Somerset 140-2

EDDIE Byrom struck his second half-century in as many County Championship matches as Somerset fought back with the bat against Essex in Chelmsford, though the visitors lost George Bartlett to the final ball of the day.

Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara had earlier each compiled centuries as Essex made Somerset's bowlers toil on day two of the day/night encounter in Chelmsford, eventually declaring on 517-5.

The hosts resumed on 298-4 and added 141 runs in the first session, ten Doeschate reaching his century with a six over long-on from the bowling of Dom Bess.

Somerset were a bowler down as Tim Groenewald was being assessed having picked up a groin injury in the warm-up, with Bess - who bowled 35 overs unchanged on day one - continuing his lengthy stint of steady, economical bowling on a pitch offering nothing for his off-spin.

There was not a lot in it for the seamers either, who each slogged away without reward through the afternoon as Bopara joined his captain in reaching three figures.

The former England man eventually fell for 118, clean bowled by Peter Trego having a hoik across the line as the fifth wicket arrived with the score on 506.

The declaration came just 2.3 overs later, with ten Doeschate undefeated on 173 as his side racked up 517-5 in exactly 150 overs, leaving them just over a session to try and make inroads with the ball

Steve Davies - promoted to open in the absence of the injured Matt Renshaw - and Eddie Byrom saw out the 10 overs before tea comfortably enough, with Davies passing 12,000 career First Class runs in the process.

The opening stand had reached 55 when Davies was strangled down the leg side off Neil Wagner for 41, but young guns Byrom and Bartlett knuckled down against the pink ball in the evening session.

Byrom reached his 50 shortly before the close from 98 balls, but Bartlett paid the price for shouldering arms to Sam Cook on 42 as he was bowled from what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

James Hildreth will join Byrom - who walked off with 53 to his name - when play resumes at 2pm tomorrow afternoon, with Somerset on 140-2 and trailing by 377 runs.