Cast your vote for the DeVines Player of the Month for May. This period saw the Essex team continue their rounds of the LV= Insurance County Championship games as well as making their debut appearance for this season’s Vitality Blast tournament.
At the start of the month, Paul Walter’s maiden first-class century lit up a day in which Essex managed to maintain the upper hand against Yorkshire in the LV = Insurance County Championship Division One clash. Walter carried this enthusiasm into the opening game in this year’s Vitality Blast, helping to secure the first victory for the Essex Eagles this season.
Matt Critchley had the Eagles’ best bowling figures with one for 16. But was backed up as well by spin duo Aron Nijjar and Skipper Simon Harmer, who also took key Wickets.
The four players nominated for the award are:
Matt Critchley
In imperious form, Matt Critchley was there at the end of Essex’s dominant win against Hampshire as he scored 45*. Increasing his already brilliant average to 61.50 from the opening three games on the T20 Blast, which included 60 against Somerset, which helped Essex to a competitive total in Taunton.
Simon Harmer
May was another amazing month for the South African all-rounder, as he helped with both bat and ball in both red and white ball. Starting the month, playing red ball Harmer scored 50 against Yorkshire and taking five wickets against Lancashire.
Moving into white ball, Simon helped Essex to their first win on the opening day of the competition against Kent as he was there to score the winning runs, scoring 21* off 11 balls. Throughout the Vitality T20 Blast in May Simon Harmer has also kept a good economy while taking wickets, as he’s taken 5 wickets at an average of 22.6.
Paul Walter
At the start of the month, Paul Walter scored his maiden century (141) for Essex against Yorkshire, which showed great character after multiple scores in the 90s.
Paul has also played a pivotal role in the Vitality T20 Blast campaign so far, with an average of 40.5. This included a match winning 47* against Kent in the Eagles first match of the season.
Michael Pepper
Growing into the team, Michael Pepper played two match changing innings in May. One came as he took apart the Hampshire bowlers to score 75* in the first home Vitality T20 Blast game of the season, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes. Also scoring an important 37 runs in the loss against Somerset earlier in the month.
