Bears 43/4 in the powerplay. Some poor shot selections so far. Moeen out cheaply along with Sam Hain. This isn't good at all. Why was Yates dropped after that great knock against Northants??

Are we finally to see Moeen play in the T20. Surely he must be back from the IPL?

The usual poor treatment by the selectors leaving Woaksey in limbo yet again. He should at least be playing in the T20 games.

Great performance by the Bears!

Why are 8 teams starting another round of County Championship games and only us and Lancashire are starting T20 games this weekend? We don't play another Championship game until 25th June, which I feel given our current momentum is a disadvantage.

This is not good news. One player the Aussies really fear. You wonder if Jofra will ever return to red ball cricket? You have to doubt him with all these elbow and back issues over the last two years.....

Did they really need to set the wicket so far over leaving a crazy short boundary to the Hollies side?

A good outcome overall today. That great last wicket stand has probably swung the match our way. A bit disappointed with the collapse in the afternoon, but the last two rescued the situation. Rushworth has been a revelation !

The weather forecast looks dry but mainly cloudy today. There will be moisture in the wicket early on so it favours the seam bowlers. It could be a tricky first hour or so. I hope we can dig in, but losing the second wicket to the last ball of the day will boost Essex.

Essex 112/8. Hannon-Dalby has stepped up with 3 wickets now......

Correction....Essex 76/5......Rushworth's 3rd wicket in this last over before tea. The guy is amazing!

Rushworth brilliance again....2 wickets in 3 balls to reduce Essex to 76/4.

Surely Woakes can't be fatigued after the thrashing of Hampshire? He's not likely to be a first choice selection for England in the Ashes series.

Rushworth with 10 wickets in this match was outstanding, what a great piece of business to sign him. A shame that Ed Barnard fell only 5 runs short of a century. Burgess did very well with the bat as well. To think, we still have Liam Norwell to come back! Very encouraging indeed.

67/9 Last pair being a bit stubborn. Only a matter of time.....

26/3 now! Woakes strikes....

Hampshire 26/2 now. Rushworth has got both, what a signing he's been! Get Vince early and we could yet pull this off.

Probably one day mode required for 10 overs tomorrow morning. Then the bowlers take over......

The weather this spring had been pretty abysmal. We lost the whole of the first day at Taunton which cost us a win in the end having been in such a dominant position. We just about got over the line against Kent despite a lot of rain during the 4 days. We had awful batting conditions against Surrey, but probably would've still lost that match. The weather looks like wiping out most of tomorrow at the Rose Bowl, again we are so well placed in this game and will have to go for it on Sunday which looks dry and fairly sunny.

249/4. Hain 85 and Barnard 37 not out, a good partnership. I think we need to get a move on with tomorrow looking like a washout. See off this new ball first though....