ESSEX closed on 256-2 at the end of the third day’s play with Ravi Bopara on 65 and Mark Pettini 50 not out as the visitors trailed Northamptonshire by 48 runs on first innings in the County Championship clash at Wantage Road.

But Mark Pettini's team will be more than satisfied with that situation.

With 133 overs of the match lost to the weather, the realistic aim for Essex was always to be the achievement of maximum bonus points and the draw, and they look on course to satisfy those aspirations and close the gap on second-placed Warwickshire.

Once again, the start of play was delayed, this time until 1.30pm but resuming on 18-0, the 67 overs that remained proved productive day for the Essex batsmen.

Debutant John Maunders, who has played a handful of matches for the Essex Seconds this summer, announced his return to the first-class game with 62.

And fellow opener Jason Gallian returned to form in the competition after a barren run to reach 72 having managed just 39 runs on his previous seven championship knocks.

The pair batted with necessary care particularly against the spin threat of Monty Panesar and Nicky Boje although both offered a pleasing display of drives on both sides of the wicket and were prepared to play aggressively when appropriate.

Maunders hoisted Panesar over the ropes at deep extra cover, but having reached 40 he offered a difficult return catch to Boje that the bowler was unable to complete.

And salt was rubbed into the wound when maunders struck the ball to the backward point boundary to take him to his half-century having faced 128 deliveries that included a six and half-a-dozen other boundaries.

The 27-year-old left-handed opener had contributed 62 out of 113 when he attempted to push Panesar into the leg side and was caught by Riki Wessels at bat pad.

It was only the second time this season that a first wicket partnership had reached three figures and it formed the solid foundations for a potentially substantial Essex total.

Gallian and Bopara added 55 in 19 overs before a weakened Northants attack - missing Johannes van der Wath with an ankle problem plus Andrew Hall who limped out of the action with a calf strain - claimed their second wicket.

Gallian, having faced 167 balls and struck 10 boundaries, mistimed a drive off the bowling of left-arm spinner Boje to Rob White at mid-on but Bopara and Mark Pettini posted an unbroken 88 for the third wicket.

Bopara eased his way into a fluent innings after a somewhat indifferent start. He became the third Essex player to reach a half-century that spanned 104 balls and embraced six fours while Pettini played confidently throughout to reach his 50 in the final over of the day.

That came from just 67 deliveries and included two straight sixes off Panesar and one swept off Boje whilst he also struck three other boundaries as the visitors collected their second batting point of the game and the prospects of completing the full five-point haul today.