Stuart Law powered his way to a career-best 263 at Chelmsford on Thursday - and then confessed to being disappointed.

"I should have gone on to get 300," said the Aussie star, who is his own biggest critic.

"That's what I had my sights on after reaching 250. Not many blokes put together an innings of 300 in their careers so it would have been nice to be one of them.

"To get so near and then get out was a big disappointment, but hopefully another chance will come along before I've finished."

Law's mauling of Somerset's attack, plus a century from Darren Robinson, helped carry the county to a first innings total of five for 144 and a lead of 298. By the close the visitors had responded with 31 for the loss of Marcus Trescothick.

After resuming the day on 135, Law, combining deft touches with brutal power, batted with a freedom and authority that very few in the game can match.

His runs arrived from 310 deliveries, contained 36 fours and a six, and was the highest score by an overseas player for Essex - beating Mark Waugh's unbeaten 219 against Lancashire seven years ago.

The standing ovation law received as he made his weary way back to the pavilion after he had been stumped giving spinner Adrian Pierson the charge, served only to confirm what a privilege his innings had been to watch.

It was somewhat hard on Robinson that the brilliance of Law should overshadow his contribution, one which on another occasion would have stolen the headlines.

Robinson kept Law company through 73 overs which produced a partnership of 275, the highest for any wicket in a match between the two counties.

Robinson's 112 followed his double century against New Zealand just over a week earlier and ended a horrendous sequence in the Championship during which he had failed to top 50 in his last 40 visits to the crease.

His innings included 16 boundaries and it was while seeking another that he was caught at extra cover driving at Steffan Jones, one of four Somerset bowlers to concede 100 runs.

But at least Jones had the consolation of claiming four wickets, three of them in a 15 ball spell as Essex lost their last five batsmen for 19 runs.

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