TEAM NEWS
Essex Men: Paul Walter, Michael Pepper (WK), Charlie Allison, Luc Benkenstein, Wiaan Mulder, Matt Critchley, Noah Thain, Simon Harmer (C), Shane Snater, Zum Akhter, Charlie Bennett.
Derbyshire Falcons Men:Aneurin Donald (C&WK), Martin Andersson, Caleb Jewell, Wayne Madsen, Matthew Montgomery, Ross Whiteley, Amrit Basra, Nick Potts, Ben Aitchison, Akif Javed, Jack Morley
MATCH DETAILS
Umpires: James Tredwell & Mark Newell
Match Referee: Steve Davis
Scorers: Paul Parkinson & J Hough
Toss: Derbyshire won toss and elected to bat
Result: Essex won by 5 wickets
MATCH REACTION: CHARLIE ALLISON
HIGHLIGHTS
MATCH REPORT
Charlie Allison saw Essex over the line for the second time in three days as the Eagles tasted back-to-back Vitality Blast men’s competition victories.
Allison returned from England Lions duty by taking the final step against Kent Spitfires on Friday, and then classily scored 67 not out to beat Derbyshire Falcons.
A tight bowling display, with four bowlers taking two wickets, restricted Falcons to 173 – with Matt Montgomery’s 50 a rare high-point on their first T20 visit to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
And it proved far under par as Allison, with for Paul Walter and Matt Critchley, eased to victory – with both sides sitting with two wins in their respective groups.
Derbyshire and Essex had only met in the Blast once before – in the 2019 semi-final which the Eagles won comfortably en route to their only title.
A first T20 trip to Chelmsford didn’t end happily, but did start by winning the toss.
The Falcons have launched into this season’s Blast with aggression dialled up to 11, with scores of 197, 194, 230, and 234, with Aneurin Donald usually at the heart of it.
The Welshman’s last two innings, of 49 and 84, came with strike-rates of 204 and 271, and when he inexplicably managed to club a six over the offside in the second over, a repeat looked on the cards.
But he only faced two more balls before giving a five-second hang-time catch for keeper Michael Pepper.
Zum Akhter bowled Martin Andersson and Wayne Madsen, either side of Caleb Jewell falling in a Wiaan Mulder wicket maiden as the Falcons’ hopes of another gigantic score were clipped.
Ross Whiteley was stumped, and Amit Basra slapped to backward point, but Matt Montgomery tried to hold the innings together with an offside-dominant innings. He reached his fourth T20 fifty but was caught next ball.
Nick Potts plonked a couple of sixes, but wickets kept coming, and a total of 173 fell far south of the 200 you usually need at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Michael Pepper didn’t take advantage of an early life to sky in the third over, but Paul Walter did – having been put down on 19.
Walter and Charlie Allison amassed runs at will without ever verging into slogging in their 64-run partnership.
But after three controlled fours in a row, Walter over-swung and plinked straight up for a rapid 41, with Luc Benkenstein run out and Mulder caught soon after.
But Allison refused to let Essex lose their way, and with former Falcon Critchley, exemplified risk-free cricket, while also sticking to the required rate.
Allison upgraded his clutchness against the Spitfires for a leading role, picking up his second T20 fifty.
And while Critchley holed out with seven needed off seven - to end a 58-run partnership - Allison once again completed the win with two balls to spare with a straight six.
