GLOUCESTERSHIRE allowed Essex to take the initiative yesterday in their Liverpool Victoria County Championship division two clash at Chelmsford.

After Steve Kirby inspired a fight back with a five-wicket haul in Essex’s first innings, the batsman collapsed to 70-6 to only hold a 66-run lead in their second innings.

The county took their foot off the pedal to allow Essex past their first innings total of 275, after reducing them to 109-6 at one stage.

Things got worse as Essex’s bowlers, led by Pakistan off-spinner Danish Kaneira, ripped through Gloucestershire’s top order.

Kaneira had figures of 3-13 at the close of play yesterday, removing Will Porterfield, Alex Gidman and Chris Taylor.

Hamish Marshall was caught by Ravi Bopara off the bowling of David Masters, and two late wickets for James Middlebrook, removing Marcus North and Vikram Banerjee, piled on the misery.

One shining light for Gloucestershire is that Kadeer Ali (8 not out) returned to the crease before close of play, after he was hit on the wrist by Graham Napier forcing him to retire hurt earlier in the innings.

He will resume with in-form wicket keeper Steve Snell (2 not out) this morning, but Essex will be confident of wrapping up a three-day victory.

Essex had started day two on 66-0 but Mark Hardinges got a breakthrough early on as he removed Varun Chopra for 47.

Fellow opener Jason Gallian became Kirby's first victim in a spell where the home side lost five wickets for just seven runs.

Spinner Vikram Banerjee (2-77) removed Dexter for 11, before Kirby removed England international Bopara and Mark Pettini, both for ducks, and then Ryan Ten Doeschate (0) was lbw to Banerjee.

However James Middlebrook (41) and James Foster (57) put on a stand of 69 as the home side recovered.

The last pair of Kaneira and Masters put on 38 before the latter became Kirby’s (5-60) fifth victim, as Essex were all out for 279.