Bopara ton puts Essex in control

County Championship D2, Chelmsford: Essex 309-2 v Northamptonshire (day one, stumps)

Scorecard

Ravinder Bopara made the most of three dropped chances to continue his recent form and put Essex firmly in control of their division two game with Northants.

England all-rounder Bopara scored a match-winning century against Glamorgan at the weekend, and again looked fluent with a crucial 155 not out.

After Mark Pettini fell early, Bopara and Varun Chopra shared a 116 stand.

And the 22-year-old then combined with Grant Flower (71 not out) for 182 runs to leave Essex 309-2 by close of play.

However, he should have been making his way back to the pavilion without a run against his name when an outside edge flew head high just to the right of wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien, only for the Irishman to drop it.

It cost Steve Crook his second wicket in an over, the Australian having had Pettini (8) taken at second slip by David Sales two deliveries earlier.

Bopara also escaped on 90, again Crook the bowler to suffer as Stephen Peters put down a straightforward waist-high catch at first slip, while a third chance to snare the all-rounder went down off Crook when he reached his 150.

And he will be at the crease on the second morning as Essex look to build a substantial total.