Will Jefferson struck a career-best 222 yesterday as Essex were bowled out for a highly satisfactory 416 on the opening day of the County Championship match against Hamp-shire at Southampton.

The lofty opener's highly disciplined innings allowed his side to claim their full tally of batting points after they had been put into bat by Shane Warne.

The Australian mistakenly placed his faith in the cloud cover and sultry conditions to undo his opponents but Jefferson ensured that the elements were overcome with a superb performance.

"I've been in good championship form all season but generally the one-day form hasn't been what I would have wished," said Jefferson.

"I think I've played consistently in the championship and have often played myself in without going on to the bigger scores and so it was nice to break the barrier.

"I've never scored a double century in any form of cricket, be it at youth or club level and so to achieve that today was a brilliant feeling."

A rich menu of scoring shots based on selective drives and cuts, that saw a feast of front foot drives, allowed Jefferson to record his second century of the season in the competition as he totally dominated proceedings throughout the day.

A determined approach, although far less effective, by his top order colleagues ensured that Warne's hopes of quick pickings to enhance Hampshire's Division Two title challenge were dashed.

Jefferson's methodical application ensured his runs were gathered at an even pace as he worked the ball on both sides of the wicket with equal effectiveness.

He was positive from the start and scored 55 of the 93 runs on the board at lunch with Paul Grayson -- next year's Essex beneficiary.

But it was in the next session that the 24 year-old positively blossomed.

He claimed 102 of the 170 runs added in the 40 overs that were bowled in that period, taking four boundaries in successive deliveries from James Bruce as the ball was sent over the ropes at mid-wicket, then through the covers, then straight and finally through wide mid off.

That salvo took Bruce out of the attack to be replaced by Southend-born Alan Mullally but he was unable to prevent Jefferson reaching his century with a controlled pull down to fine leg.

Jefferson resumed after tea on 157 and the loss of James Foster -- who played in a controlled and disciplined fashion for his 40 --James Middlebrook and Graham Napier within a five overs period temporarily lifted the Hampshire spirits with their opponents still 52 runs short of their fifth point.

But Andre Adams came to the wicket with a belligerent solution taking three boundaries from Mullally in the pace man's first over with the new ball.

Jefferson clinically moved past his previous highest score of 165 not out against Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford in 2002 with a single and a similar shot down to third man later completed his double century by which stage he had faced 274 balls and collected 28 boundaries.

Published Wednesday August 4, 2004

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