Even though Ronnie Irani scored the unlikeliest of centuries, it was Essex who finished up on the receiving end on the second day of their Championship clash against Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire at Southend.

Ronnie Irani marks his century

After a last wicket partnership of 105 had carried the county to the unexpected heights of 431, the visitors have so far responded with 370 for three and there is every indication they will carve out a very substantial first innings lead.

Kevin Pietersen and David Hussey were due to resume on 152 and 112, respectively, having added 199 in 41 overs to more than compensate for their failures when the two counties met in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy at Trent Bridge earlier in the season.

On that occasion both were dismissed first ball but yesterday they left their mark with a series of attacking strokes that sent fielders on retrieving missions to various areas of Southchurch Park.

True Pietersen and Hussey had a docile pitch on which to parade their talents and were sometimes helped by indifferent bowling, but that did not detract from the entertainment they dished up with a series of flowing drives and punishing pulls when the ball was dropped short.

The fact they have scored at around five an over during their time together merely confirms their dominance and probably helps explain why Notts have never failed to reach 300 in the first innings in any game this summer.

Ironically the visitors did not start well. Darren Bicknell was caught behind from Ashley Cowan's second ball of the innings, and Russell Warren was snared lbw by Graham Napier before the 50 was raised.

That heralded the arrival of Pietersen and he was soon into his stride while helping Jason Gallian add 128 for the third wicket.

So in control were they that it came as something of a surprise when the partnership was broken, but Notts can only blame themselves for that.

With the total on 171, Pietersen called his partner through for a single after stroking the ball to mid-off but Gallian was well short of making it home as Irani arrowed in a throw for James Foster to run out the Notts captain.

Earlier, Irani had made 122 from 211 deliveries, containing 18 fours and two sixes, when Brant's defences were breached by Mark Ealham after contributing 19 towards the stand.

The last 77 of Irani's run came with Brant as his partner and confirmed a rich vein of form that has brought him three centuries in all competitions this month in addition to an unbeaten half-century.

Published Friday July 30, 2004

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