It proved to be a weekend of mixed fortunes for Essex’s Hawks and Falcons, with the former on the wrong end of a heavy defeat at Surrey, while the latter overwhelmed Kent to enhance their position at the top of the table…
Surrey v Essex Hawks
D40 Quest
Byfleet Cricket Club
Sunday 23 June 2024
Surrey: U Khan, B Carter, A Abbasi, H Bishop, J Fisher, J Gale, J Grindrod, M Harris, J Khan, M O’Mahony, J Talmer
Essex Hawks: Ronnie Jackson, James Ward, Andrew Mowatt, Matthew Edwards, Asif Patel, Isaac Elles, Alfie Jeeves, Ben Aust, Benny Fryatt, Conor Berry, Joe Moss, Martyn Doe, Jack Gair.
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat
Result: Surrey won by nine wickets
Match Report
Words: Brian Jeeves
Essex Hawks found themselves on the wrong end of a nine-wicket D40 Quest defeat at the hands of a strong Surrey side at Byfleet Cricket Club.
Indeed, only two Essex batters made notable scores against a potent Surrey attack. Ronnie Jackson was desperately unlucky to fall just short of a half-century. The England all-rounder reached 48 before falling to a ball from Talmer that wicketkeeper Gale snaffled.
Joe Moss provided a disciplined batting performance and finished unbeaten on 62 from 75 balls. Talmer, with 3/19, was the pick of the Surrey bowlers.
Essex utilised seven bowlers. However, despite their efforts, the home side made short work of the chase. Khan and Carter put on 114 for the opening wicket. The former was eventually dismissed for 39 by the dogged Jackson when Benny Fryatt displayed a safe pair of hands in the field.
Carter finished unbeaten on 85 off 81 balls. It was a tough day at the office for the Essex side who now occupy fifth place in the D40 Quest table.
Kent v Essex Kestrels
S9 Regional South East
Horton Kirby Cricket Club
Sunday 23 June 2024
Essex Kestrels: Bradley Donovan*, Stephen Denham+, Phil Law, Jack Flowers, Charlie Stack, James Cole, Amara Law, Krish Bhudia, Alex Scott, Harry Willis, Oliver Kennedy, Jack Williams
Toss: Kent won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Essex Kestrels won by 150 runs
Match Report
Words: Brian Jeeves
Essex Kestrels continued their rich vain of S9 Regional South-East form with a hugely impressive 150-run victory over their Kent counterparts at Horton Kirby Cricket Club.
Essex posted a formidable 198, with Phil Law carrying his bat and finishing unbeaten on 52*.
James Cole contributed 33, wicketkeeper/batter Stephen Denham 26, and Jack Flowers 21 in what was an eye-catching performance from the team with the bat.
And Essex carried that over into their bowling, with Kent dismissed for 48. Skipper Bradley Donovan led by example and returned figures of 3/11.
Meanwhile, Oliver Kennedy, Charlie Stack, and Law each claimed a wicket apiece, helping the visitors home with some to spare.
