Somerset took total control of this match when they dismissed Essex for 172 to gain a first innings lead of 219 at Chelmsford before the home side safely negotiated the remaining 12 overs of the day. They will resume in the morning still needing 194 to make Somerset bat again with all their second innings wickets intact.

This was the eighth time that Essex had been forced to follow-on this season and the perpetrators of their demise on this occasion were the contrasting Richard Johnson and Keith Dutch.

Paceman Johnson took 5-40 to shatter the heart of the innings while his slow bowler colleague claimed four wickets including that of opener Darren Robinson who scored more than half his side's runs in reaching 89 before turning a ball into the hands of short leg soon after the tea interval.

Dutch had twice afforded his opponent a let-off having failed to complete a difficult catch at slip when the Essex batsman had scored 39 and then he failed to hold on to a powerfully struck drive off his own bowling when Robinson had added six more runs.

Seizing on his good fortune, Robinson played aggressively, striking eight more boundaries and 17 in total before his dismissal.

Johnson had undermined the home side's response to a Somerset first innings total of 391 when he ripped out Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton with only 31 runs on the board before Stuart Law joined Robinson in a third-wicket stand worth 52. However, the Australian seldom looked at ease as he struggled with his timing and Johnson induced at least three false shots early in his innings.

Law eventually fell to a mistimed square cut to be caught by Jamie Cox in the gully and although Ronnie Irani batted obdurately for 45 minutes in scoring six, from the moment he dragged a delivery from Dutch on to his stumps, the Essex innings capitulated in the face of some impressive and incisive Somerset bowling.

The next three wickets fell in the space of four overs with Johnson and Dutch bowling in harness to inspire their side towards the runners-up position in the Cricinfo Championship.

Earlier in the day, after the start had been delayed for 45 minutes because of rain, Somerset had lost their remaining five wickets for 87 runs in the chase for quick runs with Jamie Cox adding only nine to his overnight 175.

There was some concern for the visitors when Rob Turner was hit on the forearm by a rising delivery from Ashley Cowan in the fourth over of the day and was forced to retire although he later returned. He failed to take the field when Essex began their reply but resumed his customary wicket-keeper's role after the tea interval.

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