Essex v Warwickshire
Rothesay County Championship
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
Tuesday 29 July – 01 August 2025 | 11am start
Team News
Essex: Dean Elgar, Paul Walter, Tom Westley (c), Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Michael Pepper (wk), Noah Thain, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Hampshire: Rob Yates, Alex Davies (c), Dan Mousley, Beau Wesbter, Ed Barnard, Kai Smith (wk), Zen Malik, Vansh Jani, Corey Rocchiccioli, Ethan Bamber, Olly Hannon-Dalby.
Match Details
Umpires: Ian Blackwell & Tom Lungley
Match Referee: Wayne Noon
Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Mel Smith
Toss: Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bowl first
Result:
Day One Reaction:
Day One Highlights
Day One Report
Tom Westley’s superb form in the Rothesay County Championship continued as the Essex Captain struck his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire at Chelmsford. His unbeaten 124 from 234 balls, full of elegant stroke-play, also saw him pass 14,000 career red-ball runs and helped Essex close on 350-4.
Westley shared a 132-run partnership for the second wicket with Paul Walter, who made a composed 86 from 160 balls, including two sixes and nine fours. Walter also added 81 with Jordan Cox for the third wicket, helping Essex build on the momentum from the recent win at Hove – only their second Championship victory of the season – which lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Walter, recording his fifth 50+ score of the campaign, was particularly aggressive against Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, launching him for six over extra cover and another over long-on. He reached his half-century from 79 balls and helped bring up Essex’s first hundred with a powerful six.
Westley, meanwhile, was at his fluent best, timing the ball superbly. A cover drive off Ethan Bamber and a straight drive off Beau Webster were among the highlights. His half-century came from 107 balls and he later reached his century with a boundary angled down to third man off Ed Barnard.
Warwickshire’s day was summed up by an unusual moment – part-time leg-spinner Zen Malik claiming his maiden first-class wicket. Introduced to use up an over before the second new ball, Malik deceived Cox, who lost his footing attempting a big shot and was bowled in unorthodox fashion.
Earlier, Essex’s preparations had been disrupted. Khaleel Ahmed withdrew from his contract for personal reasons, and Simon Harmer also pulled out minutes before the start, citing the same. Nevertheless, Essex made the most of being put in on a hybrid pitch, compiling 68 runs without loss in 19 overs.
Dean Elgar weathered a tough opening spell to share a 50-run stand with Paul Walter but was dismissed for 27 after slashing Beau Webster to midwicket. Later, Walter fell for 86, edging Rocchiccioli to slip via the wicketkeeper’s thigh.
Bamber found some late bounce and had Westley briefly troubled after tea, but the Essex skipper soon regained control. Bamber eventually earned a reward when he had Matt Critchley caught behind off a bottom edge late in the day.
