ESSEX commenced the final day of their match with fellow promotion-chasers Somerset in a commanding position and were expecting to complete their fourth win of the season in the competition to close the gap on the division two pace-setters.
They closed on 294 for six and a lead of 423 runs after Ravinder Bopara hit his third century of the season to leave Essex in control of the match and with the opportunity of cutting into the 33-point advantage held by Somerset at the start of the game.
However, it was the supreme performance provided by Andy Bichel who returned figures of six for 63 that had earlier given the visitors the launch pad as the home side were dismissed for 153 to give his side a lead of 129 runs on first innings.
Australian Bichel, who will be 37 years-old next month, showed a youthful exuberance bowling unchanged to rip the home side apart with a display of menacing seam and swing bowling that had the Somerset batsmen floundering.
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