D40 Pursuit South
Bournemouth CC
Sunday 09 June 2023
Essex Falcons: Martyn Doe, Matthew Hazel, Joe Moss, Glyn Thomas, Lee Wheeler, Jack Flowers, Isaac Elles, Alfie Jeeves, James Cole, Matthew Thomas, Benny Fryett, Billy Gibbons
Dorset/Hampshire: S Graham, S Marks, A Humber, M Judson, T Best, R Franks, J Courtenay, L Richer, H Rixon
Match Details:
Toss: Essex Falcons won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Hampshire/Dorset 127-5 (40.0 overs)
Essex Falcons 128-1 (20.1 overs)
Essex Falcons won by 9 Wickets
Match Report:
Matthew Hazel and Joe Moss scored impressive half-centuries as Essex Falcons eased to a nine-wicket victory over Dorset/Hampshire and clinched the D40 Pursuit South title with a game to spare.
Hazel hit 50 off 68 balls, while Moss continued his great form with 55 from 63 as Essex comfortably chased down the home sides’ 127 for five with just shy of twenty overs to spare.
Earlier, Dorset/Hampshire’s Sam Graham had top-scored with 46, while Tom Best chipped in with 37. However, some economical bowling from Essex restricted the home side, while Benny Fryatt, Isaac Elles and Lee Wheeler were amongst the wickets for the triumphant visitors.
The result left Essex top of the D40 Pursuit South table, with a seventy-five-point buffer over second-placed Surrey. Essex only needs to avoid defeat in their final D40 Pursuit South match against Northamptonshire at Harlow Town Cricket Club on Sunday, August 6 to complete an unbeaten league campaign.
Delighted Essex Head Coach, Patrick Ward, enthused: “I am really proud of the players and delighted at how they have gone about things this year.
“They’ve all worked hard over the winter and have transferred that onto the pitch. We have had to work hard in every game with the bat and ball as the league is extremely competitive and all teams have played to a high standard but everyone has given their all and it’s been a great team performance with everyone contributing through the season.
“Hopefully, we can win our last match and go through the season unbeaten.”
Thank you to our long-standing partners Allen Ford for their continued support of the Essex Ability Team and kindly providing a mini-bus for team travel to away fixtures this season.
