County Championship Division Two, Colchester: Essex 32-2 v Surrey 330
All-rounder Ravi Bopara claimed his first five-wicket haul, but Essex were reduced to 32-2 at stumps on day one at Colchester, 298 behind Surrey.
The 21-year-old, named in England's initial 30-man Champions Trophy squad, captured 5-75 with his medium-pacers.
Surrey were in trouble at 204-7 but Ian Salisbury hit his highest score of the season, firing 15 fours in his 74.
Neil Saker added an unbeaten 58 and Azhar Mahmood struck twice in two balls to cap Surrey's revival.
The visitors went into the match without the injured Rikki Clarke and Anil Kumble, plus leading run-scorer Mark Ramprakash, who was unavailable for personal reasons.
Salisbury reached fifty from 62 balls with 11 fours before he was caught at short-leg.
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