It was Gloucester that ended the second day of their Championship fixture against Essex with the greater satisfaction, having gained a five-run first innings lead before claiming two quick wickets to leave the visitors with a fragile overnight advantage of just 17 runs.

That the home side reached 268 owed much to 27-year-old Matthew Windows, who scored 107 in rapid time and was well supported by Jeremy Snape.

For Windows this was a third successive century against Essex. Last year he scored 118 at Gloucester to follow his 151 at Colchester in 1998. His dashing innings on this occasion was aided by some fallible pace bowling with Mark Ilott and Danny Law particularly culpable.

In one spell the belligerent Windows took five boundaries in ten deliveries from Ilott and caused the left-armer to be removed from the attack with figures of 8-3-32-2 after the bowler had claimed two early wickets at the start of the day.

Tim Hancock was already back in the pavilion, trapped lbw playing back to Ronnie Irani from the fifth ball of the day, and two deliveries later Ilott induced an irresponsible drive from Rob Cunliffe, who was pouched at first slip by Nasser Hussain.

Only three runs had been added to the overnight score at this stage to leave Gloucestershire 8-2 and, when Ilott struck again taking a magnificent low-down catch off his own bowling to remove Mark Alleyne for eight, the home side were struggling on 46-3.

Danny Law replaced Irani at the Jessop Stand end but, in his fourth over, was punished for an errant line that saw Windows take four boundaries - easing him past his half-century - while Law retired from the attack suitably chastened, his four overs costing 29 runs.

The steadfast Chris Taylor joined Windows in a fourth wicket partnership worth 76 before he was caught at second slip by Stuart Law for 18 from the first delivery of a new Ashley Cowan spell.

Windows was still moving on at a brisk pace with a particular abundance of flowing drives into the off-side whilst also finding the gaps on the leg side. He did survive a chance to Stuart Law at slip when he had scored 91 but that only focused the batsman towards his century.

He reached the milestone having faced 123 deliveries that included 19 boundaries but seven runs later the batsman, who has been such a thorn in the Essex side in the past, drove at off-spinner Tim Mason and was caught by Darren Robinson at short extra cover.

His demise left Snape to assume the leading role, another batsman to reveal his penchant for the Essex attack. Last year he recorded his highest first class score of 98 not out against Essex and he maintained his predilection with 54 this time in a concentrated innings.

A catch at cover point by Robinson finally accounted for Snape, giving Cowan a second wicket just before the tea interval that saw the home side 224-7.

A tedious 18-over session followed during which the home side scored 30 runs and provided an escape from the Law-men for Reggie Williams, who was dropped by Stuart off the bowling of Danny with his score on 21. But the bowler gained consolation two deliveries later having Mike Cawdron caught by Barry Hyam for two.

The home side had overtaken the Essex score of 263 by two runs when Ilott had James Averis splendidly caught by Hussain in the covers and the final wicket fell to Danny Law when Jon Lewis was caught by wicket-keeper Hyam for one.

Essex were immediately in trouble, losing first innings hero Paul Prichard for one and night-watchman Hyam for a duck in the eight overs that remained for play and they will need to bat with resilience and determination when they resume at 22-2 if they are to remain with a competitive chance in this game.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.