An innings of 160 from Varun Chopra, followed up by 5-wickets from home debutant Shane Snater. It was a match defining knock from Chopra, who initially reached three figures 114 balls and finished up hitting 9 fours and 6 maximums.
Essex Eagles centurion Varun Chopra said: “I’ve had three starts in the competition this season. We speak regularly about someone in the top order making a hundred. It just allows you to accelerate when you need to if someone bats through. It was my turn today – hopefully it’ll be someone else’s on Sunday.
“But if someone from the top order can bat 35-40 overs in an innings, and get a hundred, that allows everyone else to bat around them and attack at the death. Generally if you do get hundreds in one-day cricket you’re in with a chance.
“It’s always nice to get a hundred, but even better when you go and win. It was an important win for us today. It puts us back into contention and hopefully we can build on this.”
Chopra was within four balls of carrying his bat through the innings. He said: “I wasn’t really thinking about it in the last over – I was just trying to hit six sixes! I wanted to face all six balls and just hit them as far as I could. Unfortunately I mis-hit a full-toss!”
Shane Snater had a baptism of fire at Southampton on Wednesday, but held his nerves for a five-wicket haul on his Chelmsford debut. He said: “Nerves definitely got the better of me in the beginning, but it was nice bring it back and walk away with a few wickets.
“It’s nice to pick up five wickets, but it was a team effort today. All the bowlers pulled through, and Chops with the bat. He was class.”
Essex Eagles return to Fortress Chelmsford on Sunday for the Family Fun Day against Surrey, with play beginning at 11am. Tickets for the match are on sale now with the Eagles looking to make it back-to-back wins in the competition for the first this season. Tickets are priced £15 Adults, £10 Students/Young Adults and £5 Juniors (U18s) when purchased in advance online.
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