Essex Eagles v Hampshire Hawks
Vitality Blast
The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford
Team News:
Essex Eagles: Tom Westley, Will Buttleman (wk), Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jimmy Neesham, Simon Harmer (c), Jack Plom, Aron Nijjar, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Hampshire Hawks: James Vince (c), D’Arcy Short, Tom Alsop, Joe Weatherley, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Lewis McManus (wk), Ian Holland, Chris Wood, Mason Crane, Brad Wheal.
Match Details:
Umpires: Graham Lloyd & Paul Pollard
Toss: Essex Eagles who elected to field
Result: Hampshire Hawks win by 13 runs – view scorecard
Match Highlights:
Match Report:
Essex Eagles suffered a 13 run defeat in their match against the Hampshire Hawks at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Following their thrilling victory against Somerset 48 hours earlier, they succumbed tamely when replying to what appeared a modest 155-6 .
The Eagles were bowled out for 142 after Tom Westley top-scored with 44 from 29 balls before he was run out by Ian Holland’s direct throw from short fine leg.
A half-century between Westley and Paul Walter in only six overs promised to pave the way for the Eagles second victory of the campaign but once the latter was stumped off leg-spinner Mason Crane with the total now 77-3 at the end of eight overs, wickets tumbled.
Wednesday’s hero Jimmy Neesham hit a spirited 28 from 16 deliveries that included two sixes and two fours but when he departed to leave the score 120-6, the home side never really threatened to deny their opponents’ success.
The last five wickets went down for 22 runs to hand Hampshire victory with four balls to spare.
The visitors who were put into bat, were never able to accelerate as they wished thanks to some tight bowling and fine fielding.
Sam Cook conceded only 21 in his four overs and picked up two wickets, the first as a result of a magnificent catch above his head by Aron Nijjar to remove opener James Vince for 23.
Cook also got rid of the Hawks other opener, Australian international D’Arcy Short, for 26 as debutant Will Buttleman accepted a straightforward catch.
Debutant Buttleman, who was deputising for regular wicket-keeper Adam Wheater who was suffering with a side strain, enjoyed a highly competent game with the gloves. He collected a second victim when he pulled off a neat stumping to remove Liam Dawson that provided off-spinner and skipper Simon Harmer with success.
Hampshire were guided Joe Weatherley who struck 42 from 37 balls, his innings coming to an end when he swung a delivery from Neesham, one of seven bowlers used by the Eagles, to deep mid-wicket.
James Fuller weighed in with 25 from 13 balls before he departed during an eventful over by Jamie Porter. The batsman collected successive sixes but then skied the next delivery to Nijjar in the covers.
Cook, with figures of 2/21 from four overs and Harmer, 2/23 from three overs, were the chief wicket takers for the Eagles who now travel to Cardiff to meet Glamorgan on Sunday in their next Vitality Blast fixture.
