http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 – County Championship Division 2 – Bopara fifty helps Essex recover
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 again provided a timely indication of his prowess to the English selectors with another composed outing with the bat - remaining unbeaten on 65 to help Essex recover from a shaky start and end a rain-shortened day against Northamptonshire on 138 for 4 at the County Ground, Northampton, on June 6, 2012.
Since returning from a thigh injury which had sidelined him from the national team’s duties, Bopara smashed 120 not out against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gloucestershire-c785 and added another solid outing in the ongoing County Championship Division game, rescuing his side after they lost their way early on.
The first session belonged to the hosts, which cut through the top order. The first wicket fell in the fourth over after veteran Sri Lankan pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Middlebrook-c1651 made no mistake at second slip.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ben-Howgego-c1136. Bopara then came in but initially struggled to force the play but his partner, Mark Pettini had gathered pace to the innings with a well compiled 32, which included five fours.
His knock however, was brought to an end by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Willey-c1342 after he edged behind. The young left-armer then struck against shortly, removing Ben Foakes for naught. Essex entered lunch at a precarious 62 for 4 before rain delayed the start of the second session.
On resumption, Bopara slowly took the game to his opponents and started scoring at brisk pace. He eventually completed his half-century from 112 balls and had struck 12 fours to reach to 65, while was further a beneficiary of a dropped catch by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Murphy-c53110, before rain intervened again.
His partner was skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Foster-c1644, who supported him well with a crucial knock of 25, in which he hit five boundaries. The tourists reached 138 for 4 in 50 overs, after which no play was possible with the umpires calling the day off.
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 in the third and final Test.
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