Nottinghamshire v Essex
Specsavers County Championship
Sunday 30 June – Wednesday 03 July
Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire Team: Ben Slater, Ben Duckett, Chris Nash, Joe Clarke, Steven Mullaney (c), Samit Patel, Tom Moores (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Luke Fletcher, Stuart Broad, Jake Ball
Essex Team: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Aaron Beard, Jamie Porter
Toss: Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat
Umpires: Michael Burns & Billy Taylor
Result: Essex win by an innings & 123 runs
Day Four: Match Highlights
Day Four Reaction: Anthony McGrath
Day Four Reaction: Simon Harmer
Day Four: End of Match Report
Essex beat Nottinghamshire by an innings and 123 runs in the Specsavers County Championship to keep the pressure on Somerset at the top of the Division One table.
The victory was completed 40 minutes into the penultimate session as Ryan ten Doeschate’s men recorded their first away win of the season and fifth of the Championship campaign, when they bowled Nottinghamshire out for 183 in their second innings.
Once again, the guile of Simon Harmer proved influential as the off-spinner returned 4 for 35 from 40 overs in the second innings which included 24 maidens. Harmer’s latest performance takes his tally of wickets to 49 in the competition for the season.
The home side were already facing a comprehensive defeat when they started the final day on 100 for 5 and they lost their remaining wickets for a further 83 runs as Harmer orchestrated their complete capitulation.
Ben Duckett spent 35 minutes at the crease in the morning, adding 7 runs to his overnight score before he injudiciously attempted to late cut Harmer and saw the ball end in Adam Wheater’s gloves.
Next to depart was nightwatchman Luke Fletcher for 11 and he was another victim of the Wheater and Harmer double-act. By the end of the first hour’s play, just 18 runs had been scored for the loss of two wickets.
The Essex charge to victory was temporarily halted by Tom Moores and Ravi Ashwin who posted 43 in 13 overs before the former, on 14, dragged on to a delivery from Aaron Beard which knocked out middle stump.
All the while, Harmer was wheeling away at the Ratcliffe Road End without a break, inducing batsman after batsman to frequently play and miss. His morning spell saw him reach the interval with the remarkable figures of 17-12-9-2.
Lunch was called with the Nottinghamshire score reading 165 for 8. The break offered the bottom of the table side, whose last win in the Championship was achieved at Chelmsford in June 2019, some needed respite.
The new ball was taken three overs into the afternoon session and 9 overs later, the match was concluded.
Harmer trapped Stuart Broad in the crease for 6 and then Jamie Porter returned to have Ashwin caught at mid-on by Peter Siddle for 35.
Essex had been in command throughout the match with the seam attack all supporting Harmer’s efforts with a clutch of wickets that were spread around whilst Nick Browne and Ravi Bopara’s centuries underpinned a batting performance that saw the county post their highest score of the season so far.
Essex took 22 points from the match and although Somerset extended their lead at the top to 15 points, the West Country outfit will be looking over their shoulder as the Essex charge has seen them win five of their last six matches.
Day Four: Lunch Report
Essex are on the verge of victory against Nottinghamshire having reduced the home side to 165 for 8 at Trent Bridge, still trailing by 141 runs to make Essex bat again.
Simon Harmer claimed two of the three wickets to fall in the session during a spell that saw him send down 12 maidens in 17 overs at a cost of just 9 runs.
Starting the day on 100 for 5, the hosts made pedestrian progress before losing Ben Duckett 11 overs into the resumption of play. Duckett had added 7 of the ten runs that had been scored when he attempted a late cut and bottom-edged a Harmer delivery into the waiting gloves of Adam Wheater.
Nightwatchman Luke Fletcher, who had stayed around for almost an hour, pushed outside off-stump and edged a Harmer delivery to Wheater to give the gloveman his seventh victim of the match.
There was much playing and missing, particularly against Harmer but it was Aaron Beard who picked up the last wicket of the morning.
Tom Moores and Ravi Ashwin had composed an uncertain 43 runs taking the total onto 158 when left-hander Moores, on 14, lost his middle-stump when he dragged the ball on, ending his stay which had lasted 66 minutes.
Ashwin was 23 not out at the break accompanied by Stuart Broad who has yet to get off the mark.
Day Three: Match Highlights
Day Three Reaction: Ravi Bopara
Day Three: Close of Play Report
After fashioning a first-innings lead of 306 runs, Essex reduced Nottinghamshire to 100 for 5 to end the third day with every prospect of securing a first away Championship win of the summer.
Essex posted a highest score of the campaign before declaring on 519 for 9, with Ravi Bopara contributing 135. This followed with the bowling attack making inroads into the Nottinghamshire batsmen to leave the home side in all manner of trouble taking the first four wickets for only 49 runs.
Pacemen Jamie Porter, Peter Siddle and Aaron Beard wasted little time in heaping troubles on the Notts side who are currently winless and prop up the Division One table. Spin later came into play with Simon Harmer taking a wicket late in the day to leave the visitors on the cusp of victory.
Porter raced in to remove home captain Steven Mullaney for a duck in only the third over of the innings. Siddle was next to strike, trapping Chris Nash in front of his stumps after the batsman had struck all of Notts’ 13 runs on the board.
That wretched start for the beleaguered hosts was made worse when opener Ben Slater pressed the self-destruct button and was run out for 10 to leave his side 40 for 3.
Backing-up, he set off for a run after Joe Clarke had played the ball into the covers only to be sent back, but he failed to beat the throw from Beard to the non-striker’s end as Simon Harmer removed the bails.
Then nine runs later, Clarke himself departed for 21 and Beard was again involved when the 21-year-old sent down a ball that was feathered by the batsman into Adam Wheater’s gloves.
Samit Patel and Ben Duckett kept the Essex attack at bay for an hour adding 46 runs until, with a little more than three overs remaining for play, Harmer persuaded Patel (20) to edge an intended drive to Alastair Cook at slip.
Duckett will resume on 32 with nightwatchman Luke Fletcher on 4.
Earlier in the day, Bopara had completed his second ton of the season (his 27th for the county) as Essex amassed a mammoth advantage. After second day batting hero Nick Browne had departed to the fifth ball of the day without addition to his overnight 163, Bopara took over to rule the roost.
He stroked the ball with aplomb on either side of the wicket and also nudged and nurdled singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over in a display of consummate control and authority.
Ravi’s stay at the crease spanned five hours and 24 minutes and he had faced 242 balls, striking 11 boundaries to record his highest score for Essex since hitting 192 against Warwickshire in 2017.
He received fine support from his colleagues who followed Nick Bowne, after the opener was out lbw to the fifth delivery of the day by Stuart Broad.
Ryan ten Doeschate and Wheater scored 22 and 23 respectively, Harmer chipped in with 20 before Siddle struck an aggressive 33 that included a couple of sixes.
Bopara was finally dismissed when he fell to a brilliant one-handed diving catch by Broad on the deep mid-wicket boundary and the declaration followed immediately leaving the Essex attack to successfully plot the downfall of the opponents for the second time in the game.
Day Three: Tea Report
Having declared on 519 for 9 to gain a first innings advantage of 306, Essex soon had Nottinghamshire reeling when they reduced the home side to 25 for 2 by tea.
Nottinghamshire skipper Steven Mullaney, who top-scored with 74 for his side first time around, was an early casualty. Facing Porter’s tenth delivery of the second innings and without a run on the board, he completely misjudged the line, shouldered arms and lost his off stump. That gave Porter his 33rd Championship wicket of the season.
Soon after, Chris Nash, who had scored all 13 of the home side’s 13 runs, was pinned in front of his stumps by Peter Siddle as Nottinghamshire’s survival hopes sank lower but Ben Slater and Joe Clarke carried their side through the remaining four overs before tea. Both batsmen were fortunate to be given the benefit of the doubt after close lbw claims by the visitors.
Slater, who faced 24 balls before scoring his first run was 8 not out and Clarke 4 not out at the interval.
Ravi Bopara had underpinned the visitors batting on the day, hitting a serene 135 that spanned 242 deliveries and embracing 11 boundaries. He had resumed overnight on 62 and moved seamlessly to three figures shortly before lunch. It was his second century of the season and his highest for the county since he took 192 off the Warwickshire attack in the title winning season of 2017. It also brought him a 27th first-class century for Essex.
When the declaration arrived an hour into the afternoon session, Essex had recorded their highest total since they posted 517 for 7 declared against Somerset at Chelmsford in June last year.
Lower order contributions helped to build the score with Simon Harmer scoring 20, whilst Peter Siddle hit 33 from just 39 balls. Siddle’s innings included two sixes, the first of which he launched over the ropes from Samit Patel to get him off the mark.
When Bopara’s innings ended, he had spent just short of six and a half hours in the middle and his occupation at the crease only came to an end when Stuart Broad pulled off a wonderful one-handed diving catch at deep mid-wicket.
At that juncture, Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate called a halt to the innings and unleashed a bowling attack for a second time with more than four sessions of the match remaining.
Day Three: Lunch Report
Ravi Bopara posted an unbeaten century to ease Essex to a lunch score of 457 for 6, extending their first innings lead to 244 runs against bottom of the table Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
It was the second time this summer that the all-rounder had reached three figures and his latest effort was chanceless, as he reached the interval on 110 not out.
Bopara stroked the ball around the wicket with his trademark wristy strokeplay whilst also nudging and nurdling the singles to keep the scoreboard ticking along as Essex turned the screw on their opponents.
Ryan ten Doeschate and Adam Wheater chipped in 22 and 23 useful runs respectively to support Bopara’s efforts before Simon Harmer joined Bopara through to lunch to reach the interval on 16 not out.
The visitors lost three wickets in the first session of the day whilst adding 112 runs to their overnight score and it was second day centurion Nick Browne who was the first to depart and without addition to his overnight score. Facing England new ball bowler Stuart Broad, the left-hander was trapped in the crease, adjudged lbw for 163.
It was left to the indefatigable spinner Ravi Ashwin, who has so far sent down 56 overs in the innings, to collect the two other victims of the morning. Ten Doeschate had wasted little time in reaching 22 from 33 balls when Ashwin brought him forward to gain the lbw decision and end a 38-run partnership.
Wheater was even more rapid, striking three boundaries from the first ten balls that he faced as the Essex total clicked past 400. Then with the score on 422, Wheater attempted to sweep Ashwin and was trapped leg before.
Harmer then arrived to accompany Bopara to his century, duly completed with a push for a single into the off-side after the batsman had faced 184 deliveries that included nine boundaries.
Day Two: Match Highlights
Day Two Reaction: Nick Browne
Day Two: Close of Play Report
Nick Browne provided a magnificent unbeaten innings of 163 as Essex reached the end of Day Two on 345-3 and a lead of 132 runs over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Browne’s insatiable vigil has so far seen him face 366 deliveries and has embraced 27 boundaries during his 7 and a half-hour sojourn at the crease, a commitment that has put the visitors in a forceful position to go on and record their first away victory of the season.
The left-hander batted with typical grit and composure although he was always quick to produce some sweet cover and leg-side drives whilst also cutting freely to illustrate controlled aggression.
It was the 15th occasion that he had scored a first-class century and the first in the Championship since his 221 versus Middlesex at Chelmsford at the end of June 2017.
He arrived at the milestone with the 17th boundary of his innings and had faced 250 balls before a further 62 balls, that included another ten fours, saw him reach his 150.
Browne received excellent support from Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara.
With Lawrence, 120 runs were added for the third wicket after the departure of Tom Westley, who added 17 runs to his overnight 25 before being caught at slip to give thee tireless Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin his first Notts wicket.
Lawrence pulled and drove freely as bat increasingly dominated ball throughout the day. His positive strokeplay and excellent running between the wickets with Browne had taken his score to 64 and Essex 2 runs past the Notts first innings total of 213.
Then, facing the fourth over of the new ball, he played outside the line and had his off stump knocked back by Luke Fletcher.
But for the dispirited Notts side, further unrewarding toil was to ensue as Bopara strode purposefully and confidently to the crease. The new arrival got off the mark with 3 runs and then watched from the non-striker’s end as Browne reached three figures with a boundary off Fletcher, a milestone that was celebrated by another rope tickler a couple of deliveries later and off the same bowler.
Bopara, typically wristy and forceful on the drive, accompanied Browne to a third batting point for Essex, and the pair posted a hundred stand in 24 overs.
The cut-off point for bonus points was reached with Essex 319 for 3, and Bopara’s half-century arrived shortly after from 85 deliveries and included 6 fours. It was the third time this Championship campaign that the stylish batsman had passed 50, one of which he turned into a century.
Bopara has contributed 62 in an unbroken partnership worth 110 and Essex will be looking to him and Browne to inflict further misery on their opponent’s when they resume in the morning.
Day Two: Tea Report
Nick Browne has batted throughout the day to put Essex into a strong position at tea on the second day of their Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.
The left-hander reached the interval on 115 out of 241 for 3 to put the visitors 28 runs ahead so far on first innings.
He and Dan Lawrence completed a third wicket stand worth 120 to ensure that Essex held the aces in their bid to secure a first away win of the season in the competition and to leave bottom-of-the-table Nottinghamshire facing further ignominy.
There was a rare moment of indiscretion for the assiduous opener when, having scored 81 out of 179 for 2, he turned a delivery from seamer Jake Ball to square leg but Joe Clarke spilled the chance. It was a rare lapse in an otherwise mature innings for Browne who posted his highest score of the season thus far.
Meanwhile Lawrence was eschewing possible demise with sensible shot-selection that included wristy strokeplay and impressive driving through the covers in a display full of authority.
He arrived at his third fifty of this Championship campaign having faced 101 deliveries that embraced seven boundaries as he and Browne spared no opportunity to continue towards putting their county into an influential position.
Their century stand arrived from 245 balls with the opener contributing 40 runs and Lawrence 59 and in the same over as the milestone was reached, the 200 was posted to give Essex their first batting point and fourth bonus point of the match so far.
The duo had taken their side two runs past the Nottinghamshire total of 213 when Lawrence on 64, fell victim to the new ball playing outside a delivery from Luke Fletcher.
Browne though continued remorselessly. With Ravi Bopara (7 not out) now for company, he struck a ball from Luke Fletcher to the boundary to reach the ropes for the 17th time from the 250-balls to become the first centurion of the match. Browne celebrated the milestone with another boundary two balls later.
It was the 15th time in his Essex first-class career that he had reached three figures and it was the first time he had reached three figures in the Championship since the end of June 2017.
Day Two: Lunch Report
Nick Browne batted superbly throughout the session as Essex enjoyed an excellent morning’s play to reach the lunch interval on 155 for 2 to trail Nottinghamshire by just 58 runs at Trent Bridge.
The left-handed opener was 67 not out equalling his highest score of the Championship season when playing against the same opposition at Chelmsford. At the break, he and Dan Lawrence had posted an unbeaten 60 for the third wicket with the latter 36 at the interval.
Resuming the day on 72 for 2, Browne and Tom Westley played with caution initially before Westley started to break free of the shackles. He had added 17 runs in 33 balls to his overnight score when he became the only victim of the morning session.
He had taken two fours in the space of three Ravi Ashwin deliveries and had advanced to 42 when the Indian Test spinner had the last word when the batsman nicked a ball to be picked up at slip by Steven Mullaney.
That ended a second wicket partnership worth 85 runs and left Lawrence to continue the fight. He was to prove a perfect ally to lynchpin Browne.
Lawrence collected the first of his 7 boundaries when cutting a ball from Ashwin that also brought up the 100. The batsman produced a series of crisp cuts and drives, and he collected three successive boundaries from the same bowler.
That was after a drive by Browne that raced to the ropes brought up the opener’s boundary count to 8 and deliver him to his half-century from 126 balls.
Browne had batted, at that stage, for 151 minutes and his exemplary concentration was to extend throughout the session.
At lunch, he had faced 162 balls and struck 11 fours whilst Lawrence’s innings has thus far spanned 63 balls and included 7 boundaries.
Day One: Match Highlights
Day One Reaction: Adam Wheater
Day One: Close of Play Report
Essex arrived at the close on 72-1 having dismissed Nottinghamshire for 213 on the opening day of the County Championship clash at Trent Bridge. Nick Browne will resume on 39 and Tom Westley on 25 with the pair having so far posted a partnership worth 62 runs.
Peter Siddle, Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard took three wickets apiece at a cost of 38, 49 and 62 runs respectively while Simon Harmer chipped in with the other as the visitors attack prospered after a morning a session that realised just a couple of scalps one each to Porter and Beard – whilst 97 runs were scored.
Nottinghamshire, bottom of the table and still winless in the competition won the toss but once Beard ended a third-wicket partnership worth 55 runs between Steven Mullaney and Chris Nash, the home batsmen floundered against a lively pace attack that bowled with vigour throughout.
With the assistance of wicket-keeper Adam Wheater, Beard struck twice in 11 deliveries at a personal cost of 5 runs. He removed Nash for 28 and then opener Mullaney, whose three hours sojourn at the crease for 74 spanned a little over three hours. Those dismissals took the 21-year-old’s tally to 11 wickets so far in only his third Championship match the summer.
Siddle then trapped Joe Clarke in front of his stumps for 15 and half the home side were back in the pavilion for 151 runs.
Samit Patel cut and drove effectively but lacked support in his attempts to restore the innings into calmer waters.
Indian Test player Ravi Ashwin was trapped leg before by Porter for 5, Tom Moores was beaten by a beautifully flighted delivery from Harmer before he had got off the mark and then Porter pinned Luke Fletcher in front of his stumps for a single as Notts were reduced to 168 for 8 having lost six wickets for 42 runs.
Patel found an ally in Stuart Broad with whom 43 runs were accrued in ten overs before Siddle wrapped up the innings. Patel, on 39, moved across his stumps to give the Australian his third wicket and Essex a third bowling point.
Then in his next over, he had Jake Ball caught behind when the number 11 flicked at a delivery angled down leg side leaving Broad 19 not out and Essex with 23 overs to face in the late afternoon.
The England bowler though was soon back in action when gaining the prized wicket of his former International Test Captain Alastair Cook in his second over of the visitors reply.
Having scored 2 of the 10 runs on the scoreboard, Cook pushed at a ball outside off to be caught by the wicket-keeper.
However, with good judgement, Browne and Westley revealed a series of clean struck drives on both sides of the wicket to round off a satisfying day for the visitors who trail by 141 runs with nine first innings wickets intact.
Day One: Tea Report
A wonderful afternoon session for Essex saw Nottinghamshire reduced to 194 for 8 at Tea after the home side lost six wickets for 97 runs in the session.
Aaron Beard and Jamie Porter shared four of the victims whilst Peter Siddle and Simon Harmer enjoyed a success apiece as the home side, having started the afternoon period on 97-2, added 29 more runs before capitulating from 126-2 to 168-8 inside 19 overs.
The incisive Beard started the slide with two wickets in 11 balls at a personal cost of five runs removing Chris Nash and Steven Mullaney for 28 and 74 respectively. The batsmen had taken their third wicket stand to 55 when both were pouched by Adam Wheater to similar deliveries that were angled into the leg side.
Siddle, back on the ground where he spent part of the 2014 campaign playing for Nottinghamshire, sent Joe Clarke on his way for 15 after the former Worcestershire batsman got his feet tangled up in front of his stumps.
Beard was rested with figures of 3 for 48 but the home side’s problems continued when Porter struck in his second over. Moving the ball with real zip, he proved too quick for Ravi Ashwin who was leg before for 5 on his Notts debut. That wicket gave Essex a second bowling point.
The return of Harmer proved the downfall of Tom Moores who was deceived by the flight and bowled without score, and then Porter’s lively full-length delivery trapped Luke Fletcher in front of his stumps for 1.
Samit Patel though provided a resilient approach and together with Stuart Broad, ensured the hosts reached Tea without further problems. Patel will resume the final session of the day on 30 whilst Broad is 11 not out.
At tea, Beard had figures of 3 for 62, Porter 3 for 49, Siddle 1 for 30 Harmer 1 for 32 and Ravi Bopara 0 for 15.
Day One: Lunch Report
Nottinghamshire, who won the toss, were 97 for 2 from 29 overs at the end of the first session of play with Steven Mullaney unbeaten on 57 and Chris Nash 14 not out in the County Championship clash with second-placed Essex at Trent Bridge.
Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard were the wicket-takers for the visitors who named an unchanged line-up form the side that beat Somerset last week.
The match saw a return to the Test match venue for Australian pace bowler Peter Siddle, who spent a year with Notts back in 2014 taking 37 wickets in 11 Championship matches.
He took the new ball with Jamie Porter and it was the latter that found the breakthrough.
Porter struck in his second over of the match and with his 11th delivery. Ben Duckett had scored 8 of the 13 runs on the board when Porter angled a ball away from the left-hander to find the edge and Alastair Cook at first slip took the catch.
Mullaney, promoted to open the innings, played forcefully from the start. He greeted the introduction of Simon Harmer just before an hour’s play by clearing the ropes over wide long-on and the off-spinner was quickly removed from the attack having conceded 9 runs from his over.
The Notts captain and left-hander Ben Slater raised a half-century stand in 14 overs and had carried the total to 71 when Beard struck in his 4th over.
Slater, on 14, pushed forward but the ball carried through and Adam Wheater completed a fine catch low down diving in front of slip.
Porter might have had a second wicket when Mullaney, within 7 runs of his fifty, cover drove but Nick Browne at cover point was unable to hold onto the ball.
Mullaney went on to complete his 73-ball half-century that also included a second maximum blow when he pulled a ball from Porter over the ropes.
At the break, Porter had taken 1 for 32, Beard 1 for 24, Harmer 0 for 17, Siddle 0 for 22 and Ravi Bopara’s single over was a maiden.
