ESSEX finished a topsy-turvy day two of their LV County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Chelmsford well on course for a fourth victory of the campaign.

First, feisty batting from James Foster, James Middlebrook, Graham Napier and tail-enders David Masters and Danish Kaneria sneaked an unlikely-looking first innings lead of four runs.

It was then the turn of spinners Kaneria and James Middlebook to take centre stage, beating the bat on numerous occasions as Gloucestershire’s second innings subsided to 70-6 by the close.

Earlier, Essex had looked like throwing away a promising overnight position of 66-0 as Ravi Bopara, captain Mark Pettini and Ryan ten Doeschate all perished without troubling the scorers.

Foster, however, stopped the rot by playing watchfully and with the appropriate shot selection to provide the defiant force his side desperately needed.

At lunch, Essex were 128-6, still 147 runs adrift of Gloucester-shire’s first innings 275 all out.

The collapse had seen five wickets fall in seven overs for the loss of just seven runs.

However, Foster and Middlebrook were not to be deterred from their work, re-grouping to add 69 runs.

The latter smashed Marcus North for two consecutive sixes before the spinner exacted revenge by trapping Middlebrook leg-before for a 71-ball innings of 41.

Napier was his usual aggressive self, hitting a six and two fours from a Vikram Banerjee over and helping Foster add 49 for the eighth wicket before Jon Lewis had him caught behind for 27.

Foster continued, reaching his fifty shortly afterwards before hooking Steve Kirby to William Porterfield at deep square leg.

With the last pair together, some spectators might have expected the innings to end quickly but David Masters – no mug with the bat – and Kaneria played effectively to add an invaluable 38 for the final wicket before the former edged Kirby to North at second slip.

Having been held up by Essex, Gloucestershire’s second innings started badly when opener Kadeer Ali was hit on the hand by a vicious lifting delivery from Graham Napier in the second over and at the end of the next, he retired hurt.

However, it was the slow bowlers who did the real damage.

Kaneria struck first with the score on 31, trapping Porterfield leg-before before Masters removed New Zealander Hamish Marshall – caught by Bopara at cover.

Kaneria then plucked out Alex Gidman, caught by Middlebrook at mid-on, before the leg-spinner then grabbed a return catch to send back Chris Taylor.

Middlebrook captured the big wicket of North, who made 98 in the first innings, shortly before the close to leave Gloucestershire reeling, just 66 runs ahead with four wickets in hand.

l SEE Friday’s Echo for a full preview ahead of Saturday’s Twenty20 Cup Finals Day.