India are poised to take a commanding position in their match against Essex after Harbhajan Singh ended the Essex innings almost single-handed.

Singh ended up taking a total of seven Essex wickets for just 83 runs.

Essex were bowled out for 279 in reply to India's first innings of 516.

It gives the tourists a lead of 237 runs and by lunch today in their second innings India were 0 without loss.

Andy Flower joint top scored for Essex with Darren Robinson on 59.

But it was the visitors who had the upper hand in the morning session with Irani, Dakin, Hyam and Middlebrook all given their marching orders as Singh made short work of the tail end of the Essex order.

Yesterday opening batsmen Darren Robinson (59) and Richard Clinton (23) lost their wickets along with Ravinder Bopara (29).

Earlier, a change of bowling brought about the end of the Indian innings including the wicket of Shiv Das who had been at the crease for over a day.

Das, who made a double century for the tourists, was eventually dismissed on 250.

His wicket was one of three taken by Timothy Philips who accounted for tail end batsmen Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh

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Published Friday August 16, 2002