Chopra and Foster attack Gloucestershire

Varun Chopra scored his first hundred since his debut over two years ago as Essex made 318 for five against bottom side Gloucestershire in the LV County Championship Division Two match at Bristol.

Chopra had not reached three figures since he scored 106 in the first innings of the game with Gloucestershire at Chelmsford in May 2006.

But the Gloucestershire attack was again to his liking as he scored a chanceless century from 167 deliveries and progressed to 155, with 21 fours, before Steve Kirby trapped him lbw with the second new ball.

James Foster helped Chopra add 138 for the fifth wicket and he was unbeaten on 68 when bad light ended play with 12.2 overs unused.

Anthony Ireland claimed the first three Essex wickets to fall and was also a wicket for left-arm seamer Rob Woodman on his Gloucestershire debut.

After Essex captain Mark Pettini won the toss, Chopra and John Maunders had to work hard for runs against the new-ball attack of Kirby and Jon Lewis.

Varun Chopra scored 155 - his second championship century

But it was the introduction of Ireland into the attack for the 10th over which provided Gloucestershire with a breakthrough as Maunders, on 17, was caught behind by Steve Snell off a defensive push.

Ireland had more to celebrate eight overs later when Ravi Bopara clipped a head-high catch to Richard Dawson at square-leg having made 16.

Pettini gave good support to Chopra in a partnership which had realised 70 runs before Ireland had the Essex captain caught by Hamish Marshall at second slip in the act of driving.

Teenager Jack Mickleburgh contributed 17 to a stand of 50 with Chopra before he was caught behind off former Somerset youngster Woodman.

Chopra brought up his 100 in the 56th over with a cover drive for two off Woodman and it was a welcome upturn in fortunes for the opening batsman who had averaged just 21 this season prior to the match.

With no signs of assistance from a placid pitch, Gloucestershire's attack caused a few problems for Chopra and Foster as they put together a partnership of 138 in 27 overs.

Chopra continued to score most of his runs with drives through the offside, while Foster reached his 58-ball half century with a single off Dawson.

Not surprisingly, Gloucestershire captain Lewis opted to take the second new ball straight away at the end of the 80th over.

The decision was quickly rewarded when Kirby, with the final ball of the 81st over, had Chopra lbw on the back foot.

Only a further 16 deliveries were possible before umpires Peter Willey and Tim Robinson deemed the light too poor to play on.