Essex Second XI started their 2019 season by hosting Durham Second XI in the first of two matches this week at The Cloudfm County Ground.
The 50-over friendly was a chance to see the likes of Academy players, Ben Allison, Robin Das and Josh Rymell, along with more familiar faces to the First Team setup in Paul Walter and Varun Chopra.
It was a bright start for the visitors with 33 overs gone until Essex made a breakthrough. An opening stand of 212 runs between Scott Steel (110) and Graham Clark (100) was finally broken by Paul Walter. This was quickly followed by his opening partner, Steel, departing three over later with captain Aron Nijjar bowling his for 100.
The runs soon dried up for Durham with former Leicestershire keeper/batsman, Ned Eckersley going for 15, with a further 80 scored in the final 10 overs to give Essex a target of 325 for the win.
The Essex innings didn’t get off to the best of starts as Varun Chopra was ajudged lbw on the first delivery of the innings. This brought Feroze Khushi to the middle who’s progression into the First Team has been hampered in recent seasons due to injury. Feroze was soon joined by youngster, Josh Rymell and the pair put on a 145-run partnership, which saw the Khushi reach his century off 121 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes).
He was soon out for 103 with Rymell hitting 87 off 78 balls in the 45 over. The wickets of Beard, Plom and Allison soon followed with Essex 31 runs shy of the Durham total and 9 wickets down as the 50 overs were completed.
