Lawrence century turns game for Essex

Essex 368 for 8 (Lawrence 123, ten Doeschate 86, Foster 54, Klein 4-84) lead Leicestershire 238 by 130 runsScorecard

If it is in adversity that a player can most accurately be judged, Essex have unearthed another gem in Dan Lawrence.

Watching from the other end as his side subsided to 68 for 5 – the follow-on not averted and promotion hopes receding – Lawrence contributed a serene, chanceless century against a strong seam attack on a wicket where few other batsmen have looked comfortable. It would have been an impressive effort from any player. From a 19-year-old, it was exceptional.

There is more than a hint of Alastair Cook about Lawrence. It is not just his precocious achievements – Lawrence’s polished century against Surrey in just his second Championship game made him (aged 17 years and 290 days) Essex’s youngest centurion and the third youngest in the history of the Championship – but his ability to concentrate for long periods and complement his obvious flair with discipline and patience.

There were some fine strokes in this innings; not least the flowing drive off Richard Jones to reach his third century of the campaign (no Essex batsman has made more) and the fourth of his career. But it was more his ability to defend and leave the moving ball that marked him out as a special talent. Like Cook, he oozes Test match temperament.

He shared in two century stands – 125 for the sixth wicket and 130 for the seventh – turning a probable first innings deficit into an imposing lead. And he helped secure four batting bonus points that looked mighty unlikely in the morning.

There will, as ever, be a temptation to mitigate this success with the disclaimer that it came against Division Two bowling. It is, to a degree, a fair point, too.

But this has been a high quality game and this is a good Leicestershire attack. While Dieter Klein tired noticeably during the …

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