Following two days of training to open the pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi this week, the Men’s First Team took to the field on Friday for the first competitive action against Somerset.
Most of the squad took to the field over the two T20 matches with Paul Walter and Tom Westley taking the captain duties in the absence of Simon Harmer who is currently with the South Africa Test squad.
The matches were played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and the two sides both recorded a victory, with Feroze Khushi and Michael Pepper starring for the Eagles.
Khushi opened the batting in Game One and struck 81 not out to steer Essex to a win by 4 wickets, after Ben Allison and Jamie Porter took three wickets apiece with the ball.
Michael Pepper also reached a half-century, scoring 70 in Game Two, however Somerset were the eventual winners by 5 wickets.
• Match One: Scorecard
• Match Two: Scorecard
The team will play an intra-squad game on Sunday before switching to the red ball next week for another intra-squad game and a final three-day contest against Somerset to conclude the tour.
