Yesterday, all eyes were on the opening day of the potentially decisive fifth Ashes Test at the Brit Oval. But as if to demonstrate that he would rather be in SE11 than within Castle Park's arboreal surroundings, Ravi Bopara gave the England selectors a little nudge by striking an authoritative 83 not out, made from 119 balls and including nine sumptuously struck fours.

Day two at Colchester ended with Essex almost halfway towards equalling Surrey's 428 all out, which, itself, owed much to Chris Schofield's maiden first-class century and a career best 72 from 20-year-old Stuart Meaker.

With the Brown Caps resuming on 304-6, Schofield and Meaker progressed their seventh wicket partnership to 125 in 34 overs. The former England leg-spinner slog swept Kaneria for four and went to 98 when he drove his counterpart straight down the ground for another boundary.

Schofield, whose previous best was the 99 he made against Warwickshire at Old Trafford in 2004, brought up his hundred, off 170 balls, with a glorious off driven four off Chris Wright. He celebrated the landmark by reverse sweeping Tim Phillips to the rope at deep backward point.

But, in the 118th over, the 30-year-old all-rounder nibbled at a delivery from Ryan ten Doeschate and was caught behind. Schofield had faced 208 balls and struck 22 boundaries in his 144.

Meaker, cutting Kaneria through cover and pulling David Masters, then posted a maiden first-class fifty, which came off 107 balls. Surrey secured maximum batting points with one delivery to spare when Jade Dernbach pulled Masters for four. But, in the 122nd over, Dernbach, checking his drive, was caught at mid-off.

Six overs later, Tim Linley was run out after hesitating over a second run to mid-wicket for Meaker. Later in the same over, the 20-year-old dabbed Kaneria low to Mark Pettini at slip.

After lunch, John Maunders and Tom Westley both played themselves in only to get out. In the 21st over of Essex's reply, Westley, fending at Pedro Collins, was caught behind. In the very next over, Maunders was trapped leg before on the back foot by Schofield.

At tea the hosts were had reached 118-2 off 32 overs, but seven overs after the interval Matt Walker was adjudged to have been caught down the leg-side off the bowling of Meaker.

Bopara, looking as if he was in a class of his own - albeit against an inexperienced Surrey attack - went to fifty off 80 balls. His partnership with Pettini is so far worth 84 off 25 overs. By way of contrast Pettini's unbeaten 33 off 85 balls has contained just two boundaries.

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