Drew Brierley, Sam Handley, John Bowers (WK), Luke Chapman, Sam Rippington, Jordan Bulpitt
Essex team | Nick Browne (10), Adam Wheater (31), Tom Westley (21), Ravi Bopara (25), Dan Lawrence (28), Ryan ten Doeschate (27) (C), James Foster (7) (WK), Paul Walter (22), Simon Harmer (11), Jamie Porter (44), Jack Plom (77).
Umpires | David Millns & Paul Pollard
Toss | Essex won the toss who elected to bat
End of Match Report
Persistent rain ruined the match between Cambridge MCCU and Essex at Fenner’s, where only 66.3 overs of play were possible and not a ball was bowled on the second or third days.
The start of the match had been delayed until after Lunch on the opening day but further rain over the final two days, and often heavy, meant that underfoot conditions were left to deteriorate and leaving umpires David Millns and Paul Pollard with the most straight-forward of decisions to abort any hopes of play on either of the last two scheduled days.
Indeed, the final day’s proceedings were called off as early as 8.45am on Monday.
So a frustrating time for Essex who had been looking to enjoy three days of action in the middle ahead of the County Championship opener with Yorkshire at Headingley on Friday. No one was more disappointed with the lack of play than Jack Plom. The 18 year-old England Under-19’s paceman had been handed his first-class debut for the match with the students but failed to get on the field as the weather dominated proceedings.
Also disappointment for Cambridge MCCU whose previous first-class match this season against Nottinghamshire had also fallen foul of the weather when not a ball was bowled on any of the three days.
In the curtailed action that did place on Saturday, Nick Browne took advantage of the limited play after Essex had won the toss and elected to bat. The 27-year-old left-handed opener was in commanding form reaching three figures having faced 122 balls with a six and 17 fours before retiring out with his score on 100.
Adam Wheater also enjoyed time in the middle with a fluent 50 as he and Browne opened the Essex account with a partnership of 122 before Wheater, with his score on 50, was dismissed.
Tom Westley scored 44 and Dan Lawrence 37 whilst Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate had reached 25 and 14 respectively in an unbroken partnership worth 39 runs before bad light on Saturday evening brought play to an early close with the Essex score on 283 for 4 wickets.
The weather dictated that there was to be no subsequent resumption leaving the match drawn.
Day Two Match Reaction | Anthony McGrath frustrated as rain brings a halt to proceedings
Day Two Match Report:
Play was called off for the day at 1pm after overnight and continuous rain in the morning left Fenner’s gloomy and soggy.
Umpires, David Millns and Paul Pollard, carried out a pitch inspection after an early lunch had been taken but the call to abandon play was purely a formality.
The third and final day is scheduled to commence at 11am on Monday with Essex resuming on 283 for 4. Ravi Bopara is on 25 and Ryan ten Doeschate is 14 not out.
Day One Match Report:
Nick Browne struck a chanceless century in an Essex score of 283 for 4 on the opening day of the match with Cambridge MCCU at Fenner’s.
The left-hander was in excellent form timing the ball superbly to take advantage of good batting conditions and rarely offered the students attack a moment of encouragement.
Play was delayed until 1:55pm because of the wet outfield, but Browne and opening partner Adam Wheater were soon in control. All of the first 36 runs of the day came in boundaries and the half century stand arrived in the 13th over.
Wheater also looked in good form as the pair posted 122 in 24 overs before Wheater, having just completed a 68-ball half century, was caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Callum Guest.
Browne though continued to play with authority and arrived at his century on the stroke of Tea having by then faced 122 deliveries that included one 6 and 17 4’s. He then retired out at the interval with the score on 169.
Dan Lawrence joined Tom Westley and the pair added 58 in 15 overs before Westley, on 44, became the third wicket to fall when he gave a return catch to bowler Luke Chapman.
Lawrence, on 37, also fell to a caught and bowled dismissal with the impressive Sam Rippington the successful bowler on that occasion, leaving the County Champions on 244 for 4.
However, that was to be the last reward for the plucky students attack as Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate took the team through to a premature close with bad light ending play some 7 minutes before the scheduled close.
Bopara will resume play 25 not out and the Essex skipper has 14 runs to his name.
Play is scheduled to resume at 11am on Sunday which will see Academy product, Jack Plom in action after being named in Essex’s starting XI to make his First Class debut.
