Northants v Essex: Bopara hits second century in a week

County Championship Division Two, Northampton

Essex 400-6 dec drew with Northants 200-3 dec

Northants 6pts, Essex 9pts

Match scorecard

Ravi Bopara scored his second century in a week as Essex and Northants played out a draw in the County Championship.

Bopara, who hit 120 in Essex's CB40 victory over Gloucestershire on Monday, made 174 and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 294 with James Foster (135).

Essex declared on 400-6 as David Willey took 3-74 for the hosts.

James Middlebrook (100) then became the game's third centurion as the captains shook hands on a draw the moment Northants reached 200-3 in reply.

Earlier, Bopara and Foster's partnership surpassed the previous record fifth-wicket stand for Essex against Northants of 147, made between Mark Pettini and Matt Walker in this fixture last season.

Northants take six points from the game and are fourth in the Division Two table, while Essex gained nine points and lie seventh.