Shiv Sunder Das made a compelling case for a recall to the Indian side for the third Test, which starts at Headingley next week, by reaching 250 against Essex at Chelmsford. Das, who opened yesterday and had made 165 overnight, shared a seventh-wicket stand of 105 with Sourav Ganguly, who hit out for a rapid 74, which contained 10 fours and two sixes. But Das rolled on, and was the last man out with the total at 516. He hit 32 fours and four sixes, and faced 380 balls in a marathon 540-minute stay.

One uncomfortable spectator was Wasim Jaffer, who batted down the order yesterday and was out for 19. His Test place was in doubt after three unconvincing displays against the new ball, to go with a second-innings 53 at Lord's. Now Das, 24, seems set to regain the operning berth he lost after a disappointing series in West Indies.

For Essex James Middlebrook, the offspinner signed this season from Yorkshire, persevered to take 4 for 164, while the former England seamer Mark Ilott, returning after injury, toiled through 26 overs, finishing with 1 for 103.

Faced with a daunting total, Essex started well enough. Darren Robinson and Robert Clinton put on 55 before Clinton was bowled by Tinu Yohannan for 23. "Pie Shop" Robinson made 55 before he swung Lancashire's new signing Harbhajan Singh to Jaffer. Shortly before the close Essex had reached 148 for 2, with Andy Flower on 32 and 17-year-old Ravinder Bopara on 26.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd