A BELLIGERENT century from Jesse Ryder and 99 for Ravi Bopara led an impressive Essex recovery from 29-3 to frustrate Lancashire during the second day of the LV= County Championship match at Chelmsford.

The fourth-wicket pair arrived at the crease after Glen Chapple struck twice and Jimmy Anderson once during the opening 12 overs of the season’s final fixture after rain had wiped out day one.

Lancashire won the toss, but they were put on the back foot by the former international duo, who helped the hosts close on 328-7 from 96 overs.

They shared 186 inside 51 overs up until just before tea, with Ryder making 116 off 138 balls and Bopara 99 off 242.

Anderson had Bopara caught behind with the second new ball, and finished with 4-56 from 24 overs.

This was Bopara’s highest Championship score this season, but he fell short of a second hundred against the Red Rose this season after his unbeaten 101 in the 50-over clash in Essex in late July.

He also shared 95 inside 23 overs for the fifth wicket with Ryan ten Doeschate, who made 59 either side of tea.

Chapple bowled a 12-over opening spell through the majority of the morning, returning 2-26. He had Tom Westley caught behind and Nick Browne caught at third slip.

Anderson had set Lancashire on their way by trapping England Test captain Alastair Cook lbw for one, leaving the score at 3-1 in the third over.

Unfortunately, things went down hill for the visitors, who could have had more reward through Chapple and Anderson. They lacked control from Tom Bailey and Jordan Clark, however.

Ryder, out of international contention following a series of injuries and off-field misdemeanours, was the more aggressive of the pair on the way to a 115-ball century, posted midway through the afternoon.

He hit three sixes in all, two off Bailey either side of lunch to long-on and deep backward square-leg and the other straight down the ground off Luis Reece, in the side for Alviro Petersen.

Ryder’s third six, against Bailey, came the ball before he was bowled by the seamer just before tea, leaving the score at 215-4 in the 62nd over.

Anderson gave Lancashire a late boost by getting ten Doeschate caught at mid-off, Bopara caught behind and Mark Pettini bowled as he tried to leave the ball.