CHELMSFORD, England (CMC):

Dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul carved out an unbeaten half-century, but Jamaican fast-bowler Maurice Chambers snared four wickets and Test opener Alastair Cook stroked an unbeaten half-century to place Essex in a commanding position against West Indies in their three-day tour match yesterday.

After Chambers helped reduce West Indies to a paltry 146 all out with Chanderpaul hitting 66 not out, before Cook paced himself to an unbeaten 74 for Essex to close day two on 175 for three, an overall lead of 292.

First-innings lead

Essex had earned a 117-run first-innings lead when they restricted West Indies to 146 all out as they replied to a first-innings total of 263.

From an overnight 24 for one, West Indies declined sharply as Chambers and his new-ball partner, Jahid Ahmed, struck three quick blows and left the tourists tottering at 29 for four.

Chanderpaul batted 165 minutes and faced 107 balls, stroking 10 fours and two sixes in his innings.

Chambers, a 21-year-old originally from Portland in northeastern Jamaica, finished with four for 62 off 14 overs with three maidens, while Mervyn Westfield (3-25) and Ahmed (2-55) shared five wickets.

Cook had a chance early in his innings when stand-in wicketkeeper Lendl Simmons missed a sharp chance diving to his right off Pascal.

The Essex captain, James Foster, who played seven Test matches for England between 2001 and 2002, was not out on 48 at stumps enjoying a 77-run fourth-wicket stand with Cook.

Baker has been the West Indies' best bowler so far with two for 31 off nine overs, while Pascal has one for 23 off eight.

The game ends today.

ESSEX 1st innings 263 (J Mickleburgh 58; N Deonarine 3-32)

WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 24 for 1)

D Smith c Mickleburgh b Middlebrook 13

D Richards c wkp Foster b Chambers 8

+L Simmons c wkp Foster b Ahmed 4

N Deonarine b Chambers 0

S Chanderpaul not out 66

B Nash b Chambers 14

D Bernard c wkp Foster b Ahmed 12

D Sammy lbw Westfield 1

L Baker lbw Chambers 9

A Richardson c Middlebrook b Westfield 4

N Pascal c Chambers b Westfield 0

Extras: (lb1, w4, nb10) 15

TOTAL: (all out - 44.1 overs) 146

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-24, 3-24, 4-29, 5-64, 6-79, 7-80, 8-117, 9-141.

Bowling: Chambers 14-3-62-4 (4nb); Ahmed 11-1-55-2 (2nb,1w); Middlebrook 4-3-2-1; Westfield 13.1-5-25-3 (4nb,3w); Chopra 2-1-1-0.

ESSEX 2nd Innings

J Gallian lbw Baker 0

A Cook not out 74

V Chopra c wkp Simmons b Pascal 14

J Mickleburgh lbw Baker 23

+J Foster not out 48

Extras: (b8, lb3, w2, nb3) 16

TOTAL: (for 3 wickets - 47 overs) 175

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-31, 3-98.

To Bat: T Westley, G Flower, J Middlebrook, M Westfield, J Ahmed, M Chambers.

Bowling: Baker 9-1-31-2 (2nb); Pascal 8-1-23-1; Richardson 7-1-31-0 (2w); Sammy 6-1-23-0; Bernard 11-1-29-0; Deonarine 6-0-27-0.