In April, the Essex Men’s First XI enjoyed a strong start to their LV= Insurance County Championship campaign after a fantastic win against Middlesex at Lord’s, a well-fought draw against Lancashire at home and a rain-affected draw in Canterbury.
With 46% of the votes, Matt Critchley is your DeVines Player of the Month for April.
Since making his debut for Essex last season, Critchley has proven himself a real asset to the team enjoying multiple successful partnerships throughout the start of the 2023 season.
Middlesex (A):
Losing the toss and getting put into bat, Dan Lawrence was the stand-out batter in the first innings, as he took the attack to the Middlesex bowlers. Dan brought up his century off 204 balls, playing some unorthodox shots, with helpful runs from Matt Critchley (55) carrying Essex to a total of 266.
Jamie Porter then destroyed Middlesex’s top order with a devastating spell to put Essex on top in their LV= Insurance County Championship game at Lord’s and eclipse Toby Roland-Jones’ seven-wicket haul.
Porter, operating in tandem with seam partner Sam Cook, ended the first day with 6/35 and looked unplayable as the pair ripped out Middlesex’s first four batters – all for ducks – to reduce them to a perilous 4/4.
Essex’s seamers then dispatched of the Middlesex top order for the second time in 24 hours as they closed in on victory on day three of the Lord’s clash, winning the game by 97 runs on the fourth day, as Sam Cook and Jamie Porter took 3 wickets a piece.
Lancashire (H):
Matt Critchley racked up his third fifty for Essex in three LV= Insurance County Championship innings this season on a rain-affected day against Lancashire.
This came after Sam Cook took 5/42 as Lancashire struggled before Bell stood strong, hitting 60 to help Lancashire to a competitive total of 207.
Some lower order boundary hitting from Lancashire set up a nervy final day. However, Tom Westley (43 off 120 balls) and Matt Critchley (35 off 87 balls) played defiant innings as the game slowed and the a handshake was offered.
Kent (A):
Essex dominated a truncated first day against Kent in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury, posting 164 for one. Tom Westley was unbeaten on 71 and Nick Browne made 54 before the rain intervened.
Tom Westley and Nick Browne both hit centuries as Essex advanced to 289 for one on day two, with Westley scoring a swashbuckling, unbeaten 138, which contrasted with Browne’s more measured 105 not out.
Unfortunately, bad weather wiped out the final day. Heavy rain fell throughout and play was officially abandoned at 1pm on day four.
Votes for this poll have now closed.
