Essex Men v Surrey Men | Leicestershire Foxes Men v Essex Men
Metro Bank One Day Cup
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | Grace Road, Leicester
Friday 15 August, 11am start | Sunday 17 August, 11am start
The Metro Bank One Day cup offers two games for the Essex Men this week, starting with Surrey at home followed by an away trip to Leicestershire.
Round four of the 50-over tournament sees Essex host Surrey at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on what is forecast to be a scorcher of a Friday. Less than 24 hours later, they travel to Leicester to face the Foxes at Grace Road on Sunday.
Essex showed flashes of promise but came up short against Worcestershire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, falling by 60 runs at Chelmsford.
After losing the toss, Shane Snater found movement early to trouble Worcestershire’s top order, while Nick Browne and Tom Westley chipped in with sharp catches and key dismissals. However, the visitors’ quartet of Isaac Mohammed (63), Kashif Ali (80), Jake Libby (70), and Ethan Brookes (56 off 25) combined to post a formidable 340-9 – a target that ultimately proved out of reach.
Opener Robin Das continued his strong form with a fluent 50 from 49 balls – his second successive half-century. He shared useful stands with Charlie Allison and Tom Westley (43), while youngsters Luc Benkenstein and Noah Thain added quick runs late on, offering encouragement for the side’s batting depth.
Despite the defeat, Essex’s blend of experience and emerging talent continues to develop, with signs of a more complete performance on the horizon.
Surrey sit seventh after Wednesday’s five-wicket (DLS) victory over Glamorgan at the Oval.
Nathan Barnwell claimed three wickets as Glamorgan posted 308-7 from their 50 overs. With rain around London, the Brown Caps switched into T20 mode, racing to 146-5 in 15.3 overs to pass the revised target. The charge was led by stand-in skipper Ben Foakes, who struck an unbeaten 43 from just 17 balls.
Ollie Sykes is Surrey’s leading run-scorer in this year’s competition with 157 runs in three innings at an average of 52.33, including a best of 97. James Taylor leads their wicket-taking charts with five scalps at 28.60 apiece.
Leicestershire Foxes continue their push for top spot after Wednesday’s 124-run victory over Notts Outlaws at Kibworth.
Colchester-born Sol Budinger top-scored with 102 from 80 balls, while Shan Masood (50 from 60) and Peter Handscomb and Liam Trevaskis (both 45) kept the scoreboard moving. With the ball, wickets were shared around, though Trevaskis stood out with 5-52 from his 10 overs.
Handscomb is the Foxes’ leading run-getter with 175 in three innings at an average of 87.50, including a high score of 107. Their standout bowler so far is 18-year-old Alex Green, who has taken 11 wickets at a superb average of 10.54, with best figures of 5-25.
Squad
Tom Huggins has named a 12-player squad for the Surrey’s visit to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, which includes new signing Curtis Campher.
Simon Harmer returns to the squad following his paternity leave.
Essex Academy graduate Daniel Gladwell is also named in the squad after signing a short-term professional deal until the end of August.
Noah Thain and Shane Snater have been granted rest periods for the two upcoming games, whilst Nick Browne is ruled out in the short-term after suffering a groin injury against Worcestershire on Sunday. Nick is currently working through his rehab and with the aim to rejoin the team soon.
Mackenzie Jones is still sidelined with a hamstring injury. He is still working through his rehabilitation plan. No return date has yet been set.
Dean Elgar is not available to play in the One Day Cup whilst Sam Cook, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper and Jordan Cox are all participating in the Hundred.
The Inside Line: Curtis Campher
Last Time We Met: Surrey
Josh Blake’s unbeaten century powered Surrey to a 90-run win over Essex at Chelmsford in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup last season.
2024 Lineups
Essex: Nick Browne, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley (C), Robin Das, Luc Benkenstein, Noah Thain, Simon Fernandes (WK), Shane Snater, Jamal Richards, Ben Allison, Jamie Porter.
Surrey: Dom Sibley (C), Ryan Patel, Ben Geddes, Cam Steel, Josh Blake (WK), Ollie Sykes, Adam Thomas, Conor McKerr, Nathan Barnwell, Yousef Majid, James Taylor.
Coming in at 53-3, Blake survived a drop on 40 and went on to score 100* from 100 balls, adding key partnerships: 98 with Ryan Patel (83) and an explosive unbroken 155 with Ollie Sykes (87* off 56 balls). Surrey recovered from a slow start (39-2 in the powerplay) to post 306-4, smashing 117 runs in the final 10 overs.
Essex, chasing 307, never threatened. Captain Tom Westley (78) was the only significant contributor as wickets fell steadily, with Cameron Steel taking 4-50. Essex were bowled out 90 runs short with more than three overs left, ending both teams’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Current Surrey squad: Ryan Patel (C), Nathan Barnwell, Josh Blake, Rory Burns, Tommy Ealham, Ben Foakes (WK), Alex French, Nikhil Gorantla, Yousef Majid, Cam Steel, Ollie Sykes, James Taylor, Adam Thomas.
Surrey Preview
Captain: Ryan Patel
2024 finish: 8th (Group B)
2024 leading run-scorer: Ryan Patel (363)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Cameron Steel (17)
Why they can win the competition: It will be a tough ask given the absence of 14 leading players at The Hundred, but as in previous seasons Surrey will be approaching the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a positive vision of the competition giving precious first-team experience to a raft of youngsters. There is still a hard core of senior players, too.
Player to watch: Cameron Steel will be looking at this year’s competition as the perfect opportunity to showcase his proven all-round talents as a middle-order stroke-maker and leg-spinner with a knack of taking important wickets. A comparative lack of game time in Surrey’s Rothesay County Championship side this summer will only add to that desire.
Young gun: Ollie Sykes has already been blooded in all formats, including making 11 appearances to date in the Vitality Blast. But it was in last year’s One-Day Cup, when the big-hitting 20-year-old left-hander made his first three starts in the competition, that he initially gave notice of his huge promise with 87 not out against Essex at Chelmsford.
Final thought: With no overseas player available, Surrey will be relying on the international experience of skipper Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Ben Foakes and fast bowler Matt Fisher – plus the know-how of Steel and Ryan Patel – to steer a predominantly youthful line-up in which the performances of the likes of Sykes, Josh Blake, James Taylor and Yousef Majid will be carefully monitored.
Last Time We Met: Leicestershire Foxes
Essex fell to a three-wicket defeat against Leicestershire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup despite fifties from Matt Critchley (55), Charlie Allison (51), and Noah Thain (53 off 30 balls).
2024 Lineups
Essex: Robin Das, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley (C), Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Luc Benkenstein, Noah Thain, Shane Snater, Jamal Richards, Aaron Beard, Simon Fernandes (WK).
Leicestershire Foxes: Harry Swindells, Sol Budinger, Lewis Hill (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Peter Handscomb, Ben Cox (WK), Liam Trevaskis, Ben Mike, Tom Scriven, Chris Wright, Matt Salisbury.
Batting first, Essex posted 290-9, boosted by late hitting from Thain after solid partnerships between Critchley and Allison.
Leicestershire’s chase was anchored by Sol Budinger’s run-a-ball 120, supported by Ajinkya Rahane (37) and captain Lewis Hill (42). Critchley’s 3 wickets and a late flurry of Essex breakthroughs caused some tension, but the visitors’ lower order held firm, sealing victory with 2.3 overs to spare.
Current Leicestershire Foxes squad: Peter Handscomb (C), Sol Budinger, Ben Cox (WK), Alex Green, Lewis Hill, Ian Holland, Shan Masood, Ben Mike, Rishi Patel, Tom Scriven, Liam Trevaskis, Sam Wood, Chris Wright.
Leicestershire Preview
Captain: Peter Handscomb
2024 finish: Semi-finals
2024 leading run-scorer: Peter Handscomb (539)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Tom Scriven (18)
Why they can win the competition: Winners in 2023 and semi-finalists last year, Leicestershire are a side brimming with confidence and no shortage of quality. Current man-of-the-moment Rehan Ahmed will be otherwise engaged, but overseas batting stars Peter Handscomb and Shan Masood and explosive opener Sol Budinger will compete for the spotlight in his absence. Why would they not fancy themselves for more 50-over glory?
Player to watch: After a relatively modest contribution to the Foxes’ Vitality Blast campaign, Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will be keen to make his mark in this competition, playing a format in which he has enjoyed considerable success, averaging 52.48 with 15 hundreds. That could make the left-hander a dangerous opponent.
Young gun: Josh Hull may be unavailable due to The Hundred, but Leicestershire can replace him with another 6ft 7ins fast bowler in Alex Green, who may still be growing at just 18 years old. Genuinely quick, Green took four wickets in three appearances in the competition last season and has further underlined his potential for England Under-19s against their India equivalents this summer.
Final thought: The 2023 Metro Bank One-Day Cup Final will be forever remembered for wicketkeeper-batter Harry Swindells producing the match of his life, making a career-best 117 not out to rescue his side from 89 for six and set up an unlikely Foxes victory. It is a little poignant then, on the eve of this year’s tournament, that the Leicester-born player has had to announce his retirement from cricket at the age of just 26 because of a persistent finger injury.
Group A Preview
Click here for a team-by-team preview of each of this year’s Group A contenders.
How To Watch
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and channels.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale at £18 for adults, with the option to upgrade to a Member Area Upgrade for a total price of £25.50.
Junior (U18s) prices are on sale at just £6, with the option to upgrade to a Junior Member Area Upgrade for a total price of £13.50.
Young Adults aged between 19-25 and Students can purchase tickets for £12, with the option to upgrade to Member Areas for a total price of £19.50.
The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground is located in Chelmsford on New Writtle Street, CM2 0PG.
To secure your seats for Friday, visit the link below:
Men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup Returns This August!
Essex Cricket is set for an exciting summer as the Metro Bank One Day Cup returns this August, bringing four home fixtures at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. All home games will be played during the school holidays at Chelmsford, with discounted tickets available when purchased in advance.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so visit now to to take advantage of your discount and support the Eagles this summer in the 50-over competition.
