Tom Westley impresses as Essex and Gloucestershire draw

County Championship Division Two, Chelmsford (day four)
Gloucestershire 409-5 dec drew with Essex 353-6
Gloucestershire 9pts, Essex 8pts
Match scorecard

Essex opener Tom Westley hit a brilliant 163 as his side inevitably drew with Gloucestershire at a rain-affected Chelmsford.

Neither side had much chance of victory with 156 overs lost to rain as Westley resumed on his overnight 82 not out, with Essex on 177-3 in reply to 409-5.

Following 58 and 133 last week against Cambridge UCCE, Westley batted for 284 balls before edging Will Gidman behind.

James Foster also chipped in with 51 as Essex reached 353-6 when rain arrived.

Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell was impressed by his new captain Michael Klinger in the draw.

"He showed that he is an astute reader of the game and was prepared to experiment using the conditions and the state of the match" he tod BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "His attitude rubbed off on the rest of his team-mates."

Bracewell conceded that his bowlers lacked match practice and that showed, but he said that Dan Housego's career-best innings had attracted the attention of the Essex team.

"Some of their hardy professionals said it was a first class effort," he said.