Zaman Akhter celebrates one of his three Essex wickets at Chelmsford
Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford (day one)
Surrey 183: Thomas 43; Akhter 3-36, Cook 3-41
Essex (3 pts) trail Surrey (0 pts) by 173 runs with nine wickets remaining
Sam Cook and Ollie Pope hot-footed it from Lord's to Chelmsford to enjoy contrasting fortunes following their release from the England squad.
Cook was soon among the wickets after changing into his Essex kit, to finish with 3-41, while Pope scratched around for 13 from 22 balls before becoming one of three scalps for Cook's fellow seamer Zaman Akhter.
Put in, Surrey limped to 183 inside 54 overs but then quickly hit back in the 25 balls possible before bad light ended play prematurely.
Paul Walter looked surprised to be given out, caught behind to Dan Worrall, to a ball that swung away late.
Dean Elgar and Tom Westley were both hit on the hands by spitting deliveries from Worrall and Matt Fisher as Essex finished on 10-1.
County Championship day one as it happened: Carse boosts Durham; Crocombe hat-trick, Bears/Notts washed-out
Cook was straight into the attack when he appeared on the pitch an hour after a start delayed after lunch – and needed just 10 deliveries to announce his arrival.
Former England opener Dom Sibley was all at sea as he nicked from an initial six-over Cook burst containing four maidens and just eight runs conceded.
It was a tad unfortunate for the withdrawn Charlie Bennett, who had built up a head of steam in the three overs he managed to squeeze in before his departure.
Surrey had already lost Rory Burns by the time of Cook's entrance, lbw to one from Jamie Porter that jagged into his back pad, and were soon to lose Josh Blake, caught at second slip aiming a drive through the covers.
Ben Foakes lasted three balls before he was pinned lbw for a second wicket in eight deliveries for Shane Snater.
