ESSEX enjoyed by far the better of their rain-affected match with West Indies at Chelmsford over the weekend. With one day to go, the hosts were healthily placed at 175-3, 292 runs ahead of the tourists, before rain wiped out the entire day s play. Essex

ESSEX enjoyed by far the better of their rain-affected match with West Indies at Chelmsford over the weekend.

With one day to go, the hosts were healthily placed at 175-3, 292 runs ahead of the tourists, before rain wiped out the entire day's play.

Essex had originally won the toss and elected to bat, making 263 all out.

They made a terrible start when Jason Gallian was dismissed for a duck, but Jaik Mickleburgh top scored with 58, while Varun Chopra (50), Alastair Cook (46) and James Middlebrook (46) all contributed valuable runs.

It was Cook's first innings of the season after he suffered a fractured finger in the nets before the campaign began.

When West Indies came to bat, they were blown away by the young pace duo of Maurice Chambers and Merv Westfield, who both impressed.

Chambers took 4-62, including the wicket of Brendan Nash for just 14, while Westfield ran through the tail, with figures of 3-25 from 13 overs.

In their second innings, Essex again started badly, with Gallian completing his pair, but Cook continued his return to fitness with an unbeaten 74, while Foster also hit 46 not out before the rains came.

After the match, Cook said about his injury: "It is still sore, but it is definitely getting better.

"Perhaps I hit more balls out of the middle of the bat because it was the balls I didn't hit right on Saturday that caused quite a bit of pain.