Beginning the ultimate day on 19 with out loss, nonetheless 44 runs behind, Essex misplaced their first innings centurion Paul Walter for simply three within the second over of the morning.
Walter was adjudged leg-before to Gus Atkinson, though it seemed a questionable determination with the England paceman bowling from across the wicket to the large Essex left-hander.
At 22-1 there might need been a wobble however Westley and Elgar have been helped by two missed probabilities at brief mid-wicket – Westley clipping off his pads each instances.
The primary probability was a troublesome one however in the second, off Matt Fisher, the ball seemed to slide clear by Dom Sibley’s arms as he stooped to his proper to take the catch.
Essex have been 92-1 at lunch and in mid-afternoon Westley, 37, accelerated beautifully to his thirty third first-class hundred with an attention-grabbing assault on each Tom Lawes and Fisher.
Lawes, in his third over, was pulled for six and three balls later thrashed by further cowl for 4 as Westley went to 83.
He then raced into the 90s by pulling Fisher twice for 4 and reached three figures by flicking Lawes off his pads extensive of mid on for an additional boundary.
Against this, Elgar was taking part in the anchor position to perfection, though he did as soon as advance down the pitch to hit Dan Lawrence’s off spin again over his head for six to go to 64.
Within the earlier over Elgar had watched Westley play the identical lofted straight drive – for a similar consequence – off Lawrence, however the bowler did at the least then have Westley caught brilliantly by a diving Sibley at deep mid wicket within the sixtieth over.
Charlie Allison was 35 not out on the finish, including an extra 83 with Elgar who batted for 5 and a half hours and confronted 238 balls.
Surrey have now drawn their first three matches of the season, all high-scoring affairs, however they (and England) shall be happy with the type of Atkinson following a protracted lay-off with a hamstring grievance.
Atkinson bowled with good tempo in his first match since final winter’s Boxing Day Ashes Take a look at towards Australia, and in Essex’s second innings completed with figures of 11-3-12-1 whereas wanting threatening all through regardless of the sluggish pitch.
Report by ECB Reporters’ Community, supported by Rothesay.
