LANCASHIRE V ESSEX
METRO BANK ONE DAY CUP
SEDBERGH SCHOOL, SEDBERGH
TUESDAY 1 AUGUST | 11AM START
Attention fully turns to the Metro Bank One Day Cup for the duration of August, and Essex start their campaign with a long trip north to face Lancashire in Sedbergh.
The Eagles go into the competition hunting for their first knockout stage appearance in two years, but with a squad containing a balanced blend of youth and experience, hopes are high they can achieve their aim.
Squad
A 14-player squad has been named for the tournament opener, with the 12-strong group that took on Bedfordshire supplemented by the addition of captain Tom Westley and new overseas arrival Beau Webster.
Should he be selected in the final XI, 29-year-old Australian Webster will make his debut in county cricket, while rookie contract signatories Noah Thain, Charlie Allison, and Mackenzie Jones all retain their places.
Simon Harmer is rested for the start of the group stage, and Alastair Cook will be unavailable for selection for the entirety of the competition.
The Opposition
Lancashire squad: Keaton Jennings (c), Tom Aspinwall, George Balderson, George Bell, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Josh Boyden, Matthew Hurst, George Lavelle, Jack Morley, Harry Singh, Dane Vilas, Will Williams.
Lancashire, who are seventh in Division One of the County Championship, and were eliminated in the T20 Blast quarter-finals, will be looking at the One-Day Cup as their only realistic chance of silverware left this summer.
The Red Rose finished as runners-up in this competition last time out, falling to Kent by 21 runs in the final, and that, coupled with their season so far, will doubtless provide plenty of motivation throughout August.
Last Time We Met
This will be the second trip to one of the outgrounds utilised by Lancashire for the Eagles this season, after previously clashing with the Red Rose in Blackpool in the County Championship earlier in July.
In a titanic, nerve-shredding tussle of a match, Essex prevailed by 46 runs as Lancashire, needing 430 to win on the final day, went close through Rob Jones’ century.
However, with just ten balls of the four-day contest remaining, Jones nicked Doug Bracewell to Dan Lawrence at slip to send Essex up to second in Division One.
The last meeting in the 50-over arena between the sides that saw play – following the abandonment of last season’s scheduled clash in Sedbergh due to rain – was in 2021, and that too provided high drama.
The Eagles and the Red Rose could not be separated in a nail-biting tie, as both sides posted 250; Steven Croft’s 93 underpinned Lancashire’s target despite two wickets each for Ryan ten Doeschate and Aron Nijjar.
In response, Alastair Cook hit 110 but the bowling efforts of Croft and Luke Wells helped the hosts keep the scores dead level, handing both sides a point each.
Metro Bank One Day Cup Remaining Fixtures
Tickets
Lancashire have confirmed that this match is sold out, and anyone without a ticket will now be unable to purchase one.
However, closer to home, tickets are on sale for the Eagles’ four home games in this season’s competition, with McGrath’s men set to welcome Notts Outlaws, Middlesex, Yorkshire Vikings, and Surrey to Chelmsford, while England Women will visit in September for an IT20 clash against Sri Lanka.
All tickets can be purchased by visiting the link below:
How To Watch
If you are not making the trip to Sedbergh in person, the match will be streamed by Lancashire on their YouTube channel, as well as being available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.
Live updates will also be provided on the Club’s own social media channels, while highlights will be available after the conclusion of play via the Essex Cricket website and social channels too.
