Tom Westley and Alastair Cook have both scored a half-century in each innings at Trent BridgeLV= County Championship Division One, Trent Bridge (day three)Essex 298 & 199-1: A Cook 87*, Westley 70*Nottinghamshire 442: Montgomery 177, Clarke 57, Slater 57; Critchley 3-33, S Cook 3-58Essex (2pts) lead Nottinghamshire (6 pts) by 55 with nine wickets standingMatch scorecard

Sir Alastair Cook posted his second half-century of the match as Essex overcame a substantial first-innings deficit to nose ahead against Nottinghamshire.

England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer was 87 not out and closing in on his first century at Trent Bridge, with skipper Tom Westley unbeaten on 70, as Essex moved 55 runs in front at the end of day three of their County Championship match on 199-1.

Cook’s innings improved his career-best first-class score at the ground for the second time in 48 hours, having top-scored with 72 as Essex were bowled out for 298 in their first innings before the home side posted 442 in reply on the back of Matt Montgomery’s impressive 177.

Cook, who turns 39 on December 25 and has yet to decide on his future beyond this season, will come back on Sunday determined to register his first century of the season, especially after surviving a couple of chances on day three.

Sam Cook and leg-spinner Matt Critchley finished with three victims each after Essex had taken the remaining five Nottinghamshire first-innings wickets in the course of the morning session.

Having been 28 ahead overnight, Nottinghamshire stretched their lead into one that seemed to put them firmly in control of the game.

Montgomery, 130 not out at Friday’s close, failed by one run to match the 178 he made against Durham in the final match of his debut season last September as the highest score of his career to date.

The 23-year-old had another escape on 155, when a sharp chance to Simon Harmer at short mid-wicket off Doug Bracewell went to ground.

Clearly, it was not so important to Essex as the…

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