Essex Eagles are set to return to the picturesque grounds of Saffron Walden Cricket Club as they prepare for the Royal London Cup campaign.
On Sunday 31 July, Essex Eagles will play Cambridgeshire in a National Counties 50-over contest starting at 11am with tickets and spectator information available via the Saffron Walden Cricket Club website.
The fixtures, played between every First-Class County and a National County over a three-day period, are not only a chance for sides to warm up for the Royal London Cup, but also to showcase the talent within the National Counties system. That was on display for all to see when the two sides met last year.
The Eagles fielded a strong side including Alastair Cook and Ryan ten Doeschate and completed a comfortable victory in the end, but young left-arm spinner Harrison Craig put in the performance of the day for Cambridgeshire, picking up 5/14 in his 7 overs.
The preparation clearly worked for the Eagles, who won four of their first five games on their way to a 2nd place finish in Group 1.
Essex then went on to hammer Yorkshire in the Play-Off at Chelmsford, before the campaign came to an end in Cardiff with a defeat against eventual winners, Glamorgan.
Royal London Cup fixtures come thick and fast after the National Counties game on 31 July with the Eagles making the journey up to Sedbergh for the opening game of the tournament against Lancashire on Tuesday 02 August.
Chelmsford will host four Royal London Cup fixtures between 05-17 August and tickets for those fixtures on sale now and discounted when purchased in advance, priced £15 for Adults, £10 Students/Young Adults (18-24), £5 Juniors, and free for Members.
