Essex v Sussex Sharks
Vitality Blast
The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Friday 14 June 2024 | 7:00pm
Team News:
Essex: Adam Rossington*+, Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Jordan Cox, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Daniel Sams, Luc Benkenstein, Shane Snater, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard.
Sussex Sharks: Daniel Hughes, Harrison Ward, James Coles, John Simpson+, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Tom Alsop, Danny Lamb, Nathan McAndrew, Jack Carson, Ollie Robinson, Tymal Mills*.
Match Details:
Umpires: Chris Watts & David Millns
Match Referee: Steve Davis
Toss: Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bowl first
Result: Sussex Sharks won by eight wickets
Scorecard: View Here
Match Reaction: Dean Elgar
Match Highlights
Match Report
Fifties from Dean Elgar and Michael Pepper were unable to prevent Essex falling to defeat at the hands of Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground.
Pepper blasted a 26-ball 51 and Elgar top-scored with 54 from 39, but their efforts were in vain as the Eagles’ ultimate total of 178-9 was overhauled.
Sussex reeled off the target with 4.2 overs to spare, as openers Harrison Ward and Daniel Hughes racked up a first-wicket stand of 99, individually making 68 off 36, and 47 from just 18, respectively.
Elgar, who was dropped second ball by Tom Alsop in the slips, gave Essex a confident start first alongside stand-in captain Adam Rossington, and then Pepper, after the hosts had been inserted.
The openers put on a quickfire 50 in 31 balls before Rossington was dismissed, caught behind by John Simpson off Ollie Robinson for 16, but that only served to bring the in-form Pepper to the crease.
He smoked four sixes during his stay, passing 50 for the second time in his last three home matches, as the Eagles flew to 114-1 midway through the 12th over.
The team hundred was neatly also the second 50 partnership of the match, with Pepper and Elgar bringing it up just before the halfway mark.
However, things from there began to go downhill for the Eagles, as Pepper was caught by Jack Carson off Nathan McAndrew two balls after posting 50, before Jordan Cox followed a delivery later.
This was despite Elgar marching to his own half-century shortly afterwards, lofting Carson for six to post a 35-ball 50, though his departure shortly afterwards was the beginning of a substantial slide.
He and Paul Walter fell to James Coles and Jack Carson, respectively, before a wicket in each of the next four overs repeatedly stunted any attempt to fight back, with no other batter able to pass 11.
Ben Allison did at least allow the Eagles to finish with a flourish by hitting Australian Nathan McAndrew, who was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers with 3/33, for two fours from the final two balls.
The target was, though, instantly made to feel somewhat light in the powerplay, as an enormous over from Hughes off Daniel Sams saw the Sharks get off to a flier at 92-0 after six.
Matt Critchley recovered from being hit for two sixes by Ward to remove Hughes, caught by Shane Snater, but Sussex continued to cruise ominously at 129-1 halfway through their overs.
Essex drew blood again as Ward edged Allison to Rossington behind the stumps five deliveries later, though Simpson and Coles were able to confidently guide the visitors to victory without further loss.
Simpson finished unbeaten on 45 from 28, while Coles made 18 not out off 12 as the Eagles were uncharacteristically defeated at Chelmsford for the first time in any format this season.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
