Lancashire struggle against title pacesetters
County Championship leaders Essex struck three times before lunch to take command of their clash with title rivals Lancashire as the game finally got underway on the second morning.
After a complete washout on Tuesday and a 75-minute delay on day two, it took just three balls for Jamie Porter to strike as Alex Davies tried a booming drive and edged to Simon Harmer at slip.A wicket on Championship debut followed for Sam Cook, bowling Liam Livingstone for seven, before Dane Vilas fell for the same score as he was trapped lbw by Porter.From 22 for three, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Haseeb Hameed – who received an early life when Dan Lawrence put down a tough chance at gully – saw Lancashire through to lunch without further losses on 45 for three.