Ryan ten Doeschate was Plunkett’s second victim, trapped lbw for 3. Foster was caught by Benkenstein off Thorp for 169 and Napier didn’t add to the score, after a fantastic right handed catch by Benkenstein in the slips, leaving Essex 447-8.
Will Smith caught Masters off the bowling of Blackwell for just 9 before Wright became the last man standing once Phillips was caught by Coetzer for 22, allowing Plunkett to tie up the Essex innings.
After the tea break Michael Di Venuto and Kyle Coetzer opened for Durham, with the former caught by Cook off Wright for 21, leaving Durham 33-1.
At the close of play Durham were 83-1 with Coetzer 34* and Smith 24*.
durhamccc.co.uk had a quick chat with Liam Plunkett at the end of the day – “Yesterday wasn’t one of my best performances, today I felt a little bit better – I got the wickets at the end but I think Callum bowled the best out there in the last couple of days but it was glad to pick up the wickets and get a bit of confidence.
There was a little bit in the pitch for the bowlers, I just think I wasn’t patient enough but today I felt a lot better and a bit more rhythm and a better pace. The nick that wasn’t given the first bowl I bowled was disappointing.
A few nicks didn’t carry, a few were dropped short and a few weren’t given but Essex batted well and were patient and deserved what they got. It was good to get the breakthrough in the end, a day overdue but it just goes to show we’ve got to work hard to get the wickets, after winning the championship last year, teams are going to be working hard to make sure they don’t just give them to us.”
Follow the action from today by visiting our Live Match Chat from day 2 www.durhamccc.co.uk/live-match-chat . Remember, highlights of today’s play will be posted on the website in the morning.